Macie was rushed to the PDSA's emergency out-of-hours service after swallowing an eight-inch kitchen knife (click to enlarge image right).
Owner Irene Paisley took the puppy to the PDSA after it began choking. She said: "Macie was making a squeaking sound – I thought she’d swallowed part of a toy. Then she was sick, but there was no sign of a toy and she started choking."
Having lost her previous Staffie to cancer just two months earlier, Irene feared the worst.
"I was terrified. Poor Macie was still choking and, by the time we arrived at the vet’s, there was blood coming out of her nose. The loss of our previous dog was still very raw and the thought of losing Macie, who had only been with us for two weeks, was devastating."
The young puppy was admitted, and x-rays immediately revealed the severity of the situation. The knife handle had passed through Macie’s stomach and into her intestines, while the tip of the knife was still in her gullet. She underwent emergency surgery straight away.
Irene said: "I couldn’t believe it when they said Macie had swallowed a knife. I have no idea where she got hold of it – she could have pinched it out of the dishwasher, but no-one saw what happened. None of us could sleep that night as we knew Macie might not survive."
Happily, the operation was a success and the following morning Macie was transferred to the PDSA Pet Hospital in Shamrock Street, where her recovery began.
PDSA vet, Emily Ronald, said: "I’ve never seen an x-ray like Macie’s. She was extremely lucky to survive. Her saving grace was that she swallowed the handle-end first – the blade-end would undoubtedly have pierced her organs, likely causing fatal injuries.
"The morning after surgery, she was bouncing all over the place as if nothing had happened. Macie has been back for frequent check-ups over the past two weeks and we’re pleased she’s recovering and healing well."
Expressing her gratitude to PDSA, Irene said: “Although she’s only young, Macie is already a big part of the family. She brings us so much joy and happiness, and means the world to the children. Without PDSA, she wouldn’t have received her life-saving treatment and wouldn’t be here today.”
Emily added: "Macie is just one of the lucky pets to benefit from PDSA’s emergency service which has received generous funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Thanks to their support we’re able to provide thousands of life-saving treatments across the UK."
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Some 15/20 years ago, a neighbouring practice saw something like this. A holidaymaker brought in a boxer dog, which had been treated by their home practice for vomiting. My neighbour palpated its oesophagus, felt the kni fe handle just anterior to the thoracic inlet, radiographed it, saw the knife, and withdrew it very gingerly.
This case ended up on VDS newsletter, as the owners sued the original veterinary surgeon
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