Jeremy Clarkson, 64, fans rush to star's defence as he faces backlash for pet dog's health issue: 'Common sense!'
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The former Top Gear star received some criticism after sharing sad news about his dog
Jeremy Clarkson has shared how he's had quite a tough time lately, with a few setbacks in the form of health issues - for both him and his beloved dog.
After opening up about undergoing a heart operation recently, Clarkson went on to post on his social media about how his dog also had to undergo a procedure.
Sharing a sweet photo of his pooch, a young Fox Red Labrador, he captioned the Instagram post: "The poor thing is under the knife as we speak. She has pyometra. S*** week."
Pyometra is a life-threatening infection of dogs' wombs and can affect unspayed female dogs, with treatment usually including surgery to remove the womb. If untreated, the disease can be fatal.
While many fans offered well-wishes to Clarkson and his dog, others slammed the 64-year-old for not having had his pet spayed already.
One penned: "It’s a shame as this kind of problem is preventable with spaying. But I get that some people have dogs to breed or can’t do it for whatever valid reason."
Another harshly wrote: "Spaying the female dogs n cats that you have in your house before they go on heat is common sense, Jeremy. I’m sorry that you didn’t know this. Hope she recovers well. Poor doggie."
"Poor baby should have been spayed at 6 months!! Cmon Mr clarkson," another scolded the presenter.
However, many jumped to the former Top Gear star's defence, with one hitting back: "Spaying at 6 months will restrict growth and healthy development. Have the dog be in heat at least twice. Anything before that is not recommended. Ask a vet."
"Nonsense - way too young to spay a Labrador in particular. After 2 seasons is optimal as bones will have fused and growth hormones done what they’re designed to do," another argued.
"All these different opinions re: spaying. Maybe just wish his family pet well on a post such as this? Get well soon," someone else sympathised.
"Geeze, can’t we all just say 'hope the dogs ok?' Hey Jeremy, hope your dogs ok," (sic) someone else commented.
It comes after the Clarkson's Farm star detailed his own frightening experience in a recent column in The Times, writing after his hospital visit which saw stents put into his heart: "The next morning I went home, and here I am, two hours later, writing this and sort of thinking, 'Crikey, that was close.'
"I have no idea why I had felt clammy the previous day or why I’d had those pins and needles.
"I certainly wasn’t having a heart attack. But if it hadn’t looked that way, I never would have been sent to hospital and fed into that Polo mint."
After he shared news about the procedure, concerned fans were quick to express their worries about his health, which prompted Clarkson to issue an update addressing people's worries.
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Jeremy Clarkson fans rushed to his defence in the comments section
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"I'm very grateful to everyone who sent supportive messages but I’m fine," he assured fans.
"I just have to not do any manual labour or dishwasher emptying for the next four years," he joked in a statement to The Sun, which concluded: "At least I think that’s what the doctor said."
Clarkson is yet to share an update on his dog as he returns to work at his Oxfordshire farm, Diddly Squat.