A nine-year-old French Bulldog has survived after swallowing an entire rubber duck, which became stuck in his stomach and required emergency surgery. The dog, named TJ, had been behaving unusually for weeks before vets discovered the toy on an X-ray.
Owners Libby and Joe Burgwin, from Telford, Shropshire, rushed TJ to Severn Edge vets after he began vomiting repeatedly and had difficulty breathing. They had no idea he had eaten the 6cm (2.3ins) yellow duck, a toy he had played with since puppyhood.
Discovery on X-ray
Vets spotted the duck on the first X-ray, which shocked the couple. Libby, 28, a chief operating officer for a financial technology firm, said: "We couldn't believe it when we saw the X-ray. There were no bite marks, he just swallowed it whole. It was unreal."
The duck is believed to have been lodged in TJ's stomach for at least a month. Libby recalled that TJ had been off-colour in July, burying his dental chews and being defensive, and had been sick in the mornings. After one night of repeated vomiting, they took him back to the vets, who suspected something was causing the sickness.
Surgery and recovery
The head vet called within five minutes of the X-ray, asking if the couple had lost any rubber ducks, saying it was "the weirdest thing they'd ever seen a dog swallow." The couple usually buy the ducks in packs of 12 for £12 on Amazon.
Vets removed the duck during surgery, finding it had shrunk to 3cm and lost its yellow coating. The procedure cost £3,500, but the couple are fully insured. Libby added: "He's absolutely fine now. The first five days were absolutely intense because he wasn't eating at all... By day five he was back to his normal self."
Vet's advice
Hannah Plant, head veterinary surgeon at Severn Edge Veterinary Group, said: "While it may sound unusual, dogs swallowing foreign objects is something vets see more often than many people realise." She advised owners to seek veterinary attention if they suspect their pet has swallowed something inappropriate, as early intervention can significantly improve outcomes.
