Four-Month-Old Puppy Undergoes Emergency Surgery for Ingested 20-Inch Toy Arrow

A young puppy required urgent surgical intervention after ingesting a 20-inch (51 cm) plastic toy arrow. Four-month-old Bruno consumed the toy in the garden, prompting his owner, Stacey Duff, to act when she heard him retching. Concerned that an object was lodged in his throat, she contacted her local pet hospital in Manchester, which subsequently performed an out-of-hours operation on his stomach. Vet Caragh Kelleher from the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) charity explained that the toy arrow was “so long it extended from his throat all the way to his stomach.” She stressed the necessity of its prompt removal due to the potential for a fatal obstruction, adding, “there was a high risk it could pierce through his stomach wall, causing a life-threatening infection.” Following an overnight stay, the puppy was discharged and returned home to his relieved owner, who characterized the experience as “so scary” and affectionately referred to him as “our big baby.” Ms. Duff described Bruno as “a gentle giant really,” elaborating, “He’s so soft with everyone. He’s quickly become a massive part of our family and I couldn’t imagine life without him.” The PDSA issued advice, recommending that owners contact a veterinarian without delay if their puppies consume something harmful, acknowledging puppies’ tendency for getting their paws “on things they shouldn’t.” Ms. Duff stated that she now ensures Bruno’s toys are exclusively dog-safe to avert similar incidents in the future. For more content, listeners can access the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and engage with BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story submissions can be sent to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk or via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available for review.