A pup was left facing life-saving surgery after sneaking a corn on the cob which left her fighting for her life. Eight-year-old Cockapoo, Lola, saw her stomach increase to 10 times its usual size after the vegetable caused a blockage leading to a build up of three litres of fluid.
Her worried owners took her to the vet amid concerns she had swallowed something which was causing her to vomit. Grange Vets in Norton, Stockton-on-Tees investigated and discovered the rogue veg inside her stomach.
It is not clear where Lola found the discarded vegetable, but Grange Vets is urging owners to watch their dogs for scavenging as more people eat outdoors in the warmer weather. While corn on the cob is not toxic for dogs, it does not break down and can obstruct solids and fluids from moving through the stomach which can be fatal. It could also cause choking.
Clinical director Kim Taylor-Morton carried out a gastrotomy – a surgical procedure which involved making an incision in Lola’s stomach to open it up so she could search for the foreign body and safely remove it. Kim said: “Lola’s stomach was around ten times the volume it should have been. It was full of fluid with the piece of corn acting like a cork to block the exit.
"It was a slice from the end, barely bigger than a plug and was wedged in. Nothing could get out of her stomach which could have twisted or ruptured and proved fatal without surgery.
“After her surgery, we advised her owners to be careful about what Lola ate for the following few days and how to manage the pain as she was quite unsettled at first. She has had a couple of check-ups since and is doing really well.
“My advice to other owners is to take their dog to their vet as soon as possible if they think they have swallowed a foreign object.”
Grange Vets is also urging people to be extra vigilant when having a barbecue in case their dog eats any food such as corn on the cob, onions and alcohol which are big dangers, or kebab skewers which can cause nasty injuries.
Owner Amy Trattles and her aunt Julie Agar, who sometimes looks after Lola, praised the veterinary team for their life-saving treatment of Lola. Amy said: “I have been taking Lola to Grange Vets since she was a puppy and they have always been great.
"Kim kept me up to date and phoned to say the operation had been successful which was such a relief. Lola’s aftercare from the nurse, Shaun Cleary, was brilliant - he was very patient with her.
“I was shocked to hear she had swallowed corn on the cob as we don’t eat it, so I didn’t know where she had got it from. But she still acts like a puppy and has the Cocker instinct - her nose is always on the floor, and she is always picking things up.
“She was a bit groggy after the operation, but she was trying to jump up within three days. She’s back to her usual self now which is great.”
