Dogs have long been known to chew through things that weren’t meant to be chewed on (such as sneakers or your favorite shirt) and if you’ve had a dog of your own, the words “Drop it!” surely would have been part of your vocabulary.
However, sometimes they do more than just chew and they can gulp down some small and indigestible items with the owners none the wiser. One little pooch did this more than a few times and almost paid for it with his life. Luckily, the owners were quick to notice when the dog started acting weird and they managed to save his life just in time.
It all started when Emily Shanahan noticed Mortimer, her 3-year-old bulldog, acting weird at her home in Boston, Massachusetts. As a doctor, she knew that the dog needed a veterinarian when he started vomiting.
The vet prescribed medication for vomiting but the family noticed that Mortimer got worse as the months wore on.
Mortimer is normally friendly and social but now he was lethargic and often chose to sleep by himself instead of socializing with the family. It all came to a head when the dog refused to eat.
Deciding that another visit to the vet was called for, Shanahan brought Mortimer to Angell Animal Medical Center. When vets looked at the x-rays, they were shocked at what they discovered.
What they found were 19 baby pacifiers in the dog’s tummy.
“I was shocked because even though I have two small children at home I’d never imagined he was eating their pacifiers,” Shanahan told WBZ NewsRadio.
The doctors surmised that Mortimer must have sneakily snatched the pacifiers over several months with the owners being unaware of what was happening.
Dr. Doug Brum of Angell Animal Medical Center said, “It’s likely that Mortimer started nabbing these pacifiers in April, perhaps one at a time, and that started a cycle of nausea and vomiting, which are symptoms that can be caused by so many other health issues. If not for the urgency with which his family pursued veterinary care, things would have gotten much worse for him.”
Fortunately, no surgery was needed as a simple endoscopy got all the pacifiers out.
Mortimer has now returned to normal and his family is just happy that he’s healthy again.
“We absolutely love this dog and would do anything for him — and I’m relieved that this was a problem that could be solved, as opposed to a chronic illness that would cause him long-term suffering,” Shanahan said.
Luckily for everyone, vets are used to pets swallowing all sorts of unusual objects and with how to remove them.
“Mortimer isn’t the first dog to land in this situation and he won’t be the last,” said Dr. Brum. “But we’re just so glad he’s recovered and back home with his family.”
As soon as the news spread, the Medical Center made a post about it on Twitter.
“What happened to Mortimer is VERY common,” shared MSPCA-Angell. “We remove all manner of items from the bellies of dogs every single day – pets whose families are diligent, responsible and loving.”
While it’s practically impossible to anticipate what object your dog may see as a tasty snack, Mortimer’s case is an important lesson for pet lovers to always keep a careful eye on what your pet is doing and any changes in behavior. Once your pet starts acting out of character, it’s time to visit the vet.
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