If you're a pet owner, chances are you've had that heart-stopping moment when you discover your beloved companion has swallowed something they absolutely shouldn't have. Pets have an amazing talent for ingesting the most unexpected objects. The good news? Our experienced team has successfully retrieved everything imaginable, often using minimally invasive endoscopic techniques that get your pet back to their normal, mischievous self in no time.

The Reality of Pet Curiosity: Why Do They Eat Everything?

Foreign body ingestion is one of the most frequent emergencies we see in veterinary practice, and it's particularly common in young animals under 2 years of age. Our pets don't have hands to explore their world, so they use their mouths - and sometimes what starts as innocent investigation ends with an unexpected snack.

Why Pets Swallow Strange Things:

• Natural curiosity - especially in puppies and kittens who explore everything orally
• Boredom and anxiety - pets may chew and swallow objects when understimulated
• Scavenging behavior - investigating garbage or searching for food
• Owner-scented items - socks and underwear carry your familiar smell
• Pica behavior - compulsive eating of non-food items due to behavioral or nutritional issues
• Pure accident - playing with toys that break into swallowable pieces

Endoscopic Retrieval: The Minimally Invasive Miracle

What Endoscopy? Endoscopy uses a flexible, camera-equipped tube that's inserted through your pet's mouth to visualize and retrieve objects from the esophagus and stomach. This remarkable technology allows us to see exactly what we're dealing with and often remove it without any surgical incisions.

The Endoscopic Advantage:

• No surgical incisions - meaning faster recovery and less discomfort
• Real-time visualisation - we can see the object and surrounding tissues clearly
• Immediate assessment - checking for any damage to the digestive tract
• Same-day recovery - most pets go home the same day
• Cost-effective - generally less expensive than surgical removal
• Minimal anaesthesia time - reducing overall risk

Perfect Candidates for Endoscopic Removal:

• Objects located in the esophagus or stomach
• Items swallowed within hours (ideally under 24-48 hours)
• Non-sharp objects that won't damage tissues during removal
• Appropriately sized items that can fit back through the esophagus
• Pets who are stable and not showing signs of perforation

Surgical Retrieval

If the object can't be safely passed or removed with an endoscope, surgical foreign body retrieval may be needed. This involves making an incision into the stomach or intestines to remove the item and prevent further damage or life-threatening complications. Our experienced surgical team is equipped to act quickly and carefully, giving your pet the best chance at a full recovery. Signs your pet may have a foreign body include vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, or lethargy—if you notice these, prompt veterinary attention is essential.

The goal isn't just removing the foreign object - it's getting your beloved companion back to their happy, healthy, trouble-making self as quickly and safely as possible. Whether it's a sneaky sock theft or an ambitious corn cob heist, we're here to handle whatever your pet's curiosity leads them to swallow.