Dudley

Dudley, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, needed emergency surgery to remove a toy from his intestines after he accidentally swallowed it.

Owners Jamie and Carly (both 34) love dogs, with Jamie having Staffordshire Bull Terrier dogs all his life. Jamie explained: “Staffies have always been part of the family for me. They are lively dogs who love to be the centre of attention but still love snuggles – so they fit well into our family dynamic.”

Their three-month-old puppy, Dudley, is their newest addition to the family. Carly said: “Dudley is very affectionate and loves the attention from our children. He’s a unique Staffie crossbred with a Cocker Spaniel. He’s such a curious and playful puppy - everyone adores him.”

It was an ordinary day for their household, but that soon changed when Dudley became unwell. His owner Carly explained: “He had had diarrhoea the day before, but it wasn’t anything too concerning. It was the following day that we really became worried when he was being sick and stopped eating and drinking. He’d also gone off his food entirely, seemed very tired, and was not acting his normal energetic self.

“Thankfully, he was registered at PDSA Manchester Pet Hospital, so we called them to book an appointment. The staff told us to bring him in as soon as possible, so we went straight away.”

At his appointment, the vet thoroughly examined him. Senior Veterinary Surgeon Honor Thompson explained: “We checked him over and noticed that Dudley cried when his tummy was touched. It was clear that this area was causing him lots of pain. We could feel a firm, round swelling in this part of his belly too.

“From his examination and symptoms, we strongly suspected that Dudley had eaten something that had become stuck in his gut and was causing him a lot of pain. The object needed to be removed as soon as possible, before it damaged his intestines and became life-threatening. Although the surgery would carry some risks, it was needed to save Dudley’s life.”

Dudley was put under anaesthetic and quickly taken to theatre for surgery. The vets found the cause of the blockage in his small intestine – the head of a soft toy! It was carefully removed through a small cut (incision) into the intestine, which was closed back up with stitches, followed by the muscle and skin layers.”

Honor added: “As a vet, we often see how a dog's natural curiosity can lead to unexpected dangers. Even toys marketed as 'safe' can become dangerous if pets chew them apart and swallow pieces, so we urge all pet owners to remain vigilant and keep a close eye on their pets if they’re chewing to ensure they don’t swallow bits that could cause harm.”

Thankfully, Dudley’s surgery was a success, and he recovered well after his operation. On the same day, he was discharged with some pain relief and reunited with his loving family. His owners were given strict instructions to make sure Dudley rests for a week and to keep a close eye on him for any signs of pain, infection or other problems.

His owners were shocked and couldn’t believe what he had swallowed. Carly said: “Dudley is supervised when he’s playing with his toys. We’ve bought different textured toys, hard and soft, to meet his exploration needs as a puppy. We make sure he has a safe environment to explore with no hazards, so it was an utter shock to find out he’d swallowed part of a toy, as we didn’t see it happen.

“It goes to show how easy it is for puppies in destructive mode to break their toys, and it’s made us much more selective when buying toys.”

Ultimately, Dudley’s owners are extremely thankful to PDSA for the life-saving treatment he received. Carly said: “We’re so grateful to PDSA for saving Dudley’s life; he’s a very lucky pup. We were seen so quickly, and everyone just fell in love with him. All the staff were so helpful in treating Dudley. We’re so glad he’s made a speedy recovery and is back to his usual, happy self.”

Total cost of Dudley's treatment: £556.26

PDSA is the UK’s leading veterinary charity. Through our 49 Pet Hospitals and Pet Care scheme, we save the lives of poorly pets who would otherwise be left untreated.

Every year, we treat over 430,000 pets. Without us, emergency cases like Dudley's would be left untreated and many pets could lose their lives or be separated from families who love them.

We wouldn’t be here for dogs like Dudley without your support. Please consider donating today.

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