Foreign-body ingestions are one of the leading reasons dogs and cats end up in the operating room.
Dorothy Lindsey's 3-year-old lab/basset hound mix Wilson vomited a few days ago.
"I figured he'd eaten some grass, or maybe just ate too quickly," said Lindsey.
When it happened again, Dorothy took him to Ansley Animal Clinic. His vet, Dr. Adrienne Scott, wasn't worried, at least at first.
"He actually didn't have any history of getting into anything," said Scott.
Scott checked for an infection and found nothing. She sent Wilson home with nausea medication.
"The next morning he started vomiting more severely and it looked different and smelled different, and it really worried me, so I rushed him in," said Dorothy.
That's when they found a rubber ball inside of Wilson's stomach.
"I've pulled all kinds of things out of dogs...I had a patient that ate a box of staples," said Scott.
Vets call them "foreign bodies." Your dog or cat calls them "snacks."
At Clairmont Animal Hospital, pets have swallowed a cow's vertebra, three puff balls and ladies pantyhose.
Briarcliff Animal Clinic vets have removed two doorstops from a cat's belly as well as rings and a compass.
But the Village Vets may win the grand prize of swallowed objects: they found a rubber ducky inside a Rottweiler's belly.
"They don't have hands, so everything goes in their mouth. They taste things. Sometimes they think things that aren't food are food. That ball looked like a grape," said Scott.
The problem was that the ball wouldn't budge.
"That was causing him to vomit because nothing could get past it, so he couldn't keep anything down," said Scott.
Once the intestines are blocked, there's not a lot of time to reopen them. Wilson was becoming dangerous dehydrated and there was a good chance his intestines could rupture.
"So we actually had to open up his belly and do surgery and remove it from his intestines," said Scott.
He needed anesthesia and major surgery.
Back home, with his medication, a belly full of staples and stitches and a decidedly uncool plastic collar, Wilson is back to patrolling his neighborhood with Dorothy.
So, did he learn his lesson? Probably not, Scott and Lindsey both agree.
Dr. Scott says if you have medication out, move it out of your pet's reach. And don't assume your pet won't eat objects; Wilson had no track record of culinary exploration.
Thursday, May 23 2013 7:27 AM EDT2013-05-23 11:27:37 GMT
Summer in Georgia means mosquitoes—and lots of them. Even if you're just stepping outdoors for a few minutes, you need to protect yourself. But how do you pick the right bug repellent?
Summer in Georgia means mosquitoes—and lots of them. Even if you're just stepping outdoors for a few minutes, you need to protect yourself. But how do you pick the right bug repellent?
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:20 PM EDT2013-05-22 22:20:11 GMT
Memorial Day weekend – the unofficial start of summer – is just days away. Thousands of Georgians are planning to fly somewhere, which is great, unless flying panics you.
Memorial Day weekend – the unofficial start of summer – is just days away. Thousands of Georgians are planning to fly somewhere, which is great, unless flying panics you.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:51 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:51:47 GMT
Chances are your child or someone in your child's class has at least one food allergy.
Chances are your child or someone in your child's class has at least one food allergy. A study by the CDC released last week shows that one in every 20 kids is dealing with food allergies. It's a challenge, but doctors say it's important that kids get diagnosed and treated.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:17 AM EDT2013-05-21 14:17:24 GMT
When it comes to talking to doctors, a lot of us aren't exactly shooting straight. In fact, one survey found that almost 30 percent of patients admit to lying to their physician.
When it comes to talking to doctors, a lot of us aren't exactly shooting straight. In fact, one survey found that almost 30 percent of patients admit to lying to their physician. So, how much does your doctor really need to know?
Monday, May 20 2013 6:03 PM EDT2013-05-20 22:03:26 GMT
Sutton Burnett's blog began as a way to share her story with friends and family. It's grown into something much deeper.
Drop in on your friend's Facebook pages and blogs and you'll probably see a lot of photos of their kids. Sutton Burnett's blog began as a way to share her story with friends and family. It's grown into something much deeper.
Friday, May 17 2013 6:28 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:28:40 GMT
Melanoma is considered the deadliest form of skin cancer. A veteran dermatologist says he used to see three to five melanomas a year. Now, he says, he sees that many in a week!
Melanoma is considered the deadliest form of skin cancer. A veteran dermatologist says he used to see three to five melanomas a year. Now, he says, he sees that many in a week!
Thursday, May 16 2013 11:00 PM EDT2013-05-17 03:00:47 GMT
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows millions of American kids suffer from mental health problems. Experts believe as many as 20 percent of American children are affected.
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows millions of American kids suffer from mental health problems. Experts believe as many as 20 percent of American children are affected.
Thursday, May 16 2013 12:02 AM EDT2013-05-16 04:02:20 GMT
Hundreds of American troops have lost a leg or arm in Afghanistan because of improvised explosive devices or homemade bombs.
Hundreds of American troops have lost a leg or arm in Afghanistan because of improvised explosive devices or homemade bombs. It was 29-year-old John Kremer's job to find those hidden bombs, and safely destroy them. That's what the Buford man was trying to do, when one of them exploded right under his feet.
Children's Miracle Network Hospitals raises funds for 170 children's hospitals across the United States and Canada. Click here for more on our local heroes!
An x-ray revealed that a Rottweiler had swallowed a rubber ducky.
