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Christmas miracle for dog who swallowed toy
fairy wand the length of its body
fairy wand the length of its body
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 4:19 PM on 24th December 2009
Last updated at 4:19 PM on 24th December 2009
A dog has had a miracle escape after swallowing a fairy wand almost the length of her entire body.
Pip's owner Ashleigh Fisher raised the alarm after noticing the five-month-old whippet had something
lodged in her throat
A vet's X-ray revealed the animal had swallowed the child's toy whole.
Pip's owner Ashleigh Fisher raised the alarm after noticing the five-month-old whippet had something
lodged in her throat
A vet's X-ray revealed the animal had swallowed the child's toy whole.
Christmas
wishes:
Ashleigh
Fisher (left)
with her dog
Pip and
nursing
assistant
Laura Lamb.
Pip was
operated on
after
swallowing a
toy fairy
wand
wishes:
Ashleigh
Fisher (left)
with her dog
Pip and
nursing
assistant
Laura Lamb.
Pip was
operated on
after
swallowing a
toy fairy
wand
Ashleigh, who got Pip as an 18th birthday gift from her parents, said the family first noticed something
was wrong when Pip began gulping loudly.
Laura Lamb, trainee nurse at the Bridge Veterinary Group in Middlesbrough said: 'When the X-ray was
developed the vet and nurse could hardly believe their eyes.
'A long, narrow object was visible, starting at the bottom of Pip's throat and going off the edge of the
plate towards her stomach.'
A second picture was taken, revealing that the object stretched all the way from the little dog's throat
right into her stomach.
was wrong when Pip began gulping loudly.
Laura Lamb, trainee nurse at the Bridge Veterinary Group in Middlesbrough said: 'When the X-ray was
developed the vet and nurse could hardly believe their eyes.
'A long, narrow object was visible, starting at the bottom of Pip's throat and going off the edge of the
plate towards her stomach.'
A second picture was taken, revealing that the object stretched all the way from the little dog's throat
right into her stomach.
| Swallowed whole: The five-month-old whippet gulped down the toy wand intact |
Efforts to remove the wand were unsuccessful and it was decided the only option was to operate.
Following surgery, the staff and Pip's family were amazed to discover that the offending object was a toy
fairy wand.
Laura said: 'Luckily for Pip, it did not appear to have done any damage to her insides and she had a
good recovery.'
Ashleigh, who also lives with mum Karen, dad Stephen, 47, a builder, 16-year-old sister Abbey, and
twin toddler sisters, three-year-olds Emily and Beth, added: 'We had no idea what it could be that she'd
swallowed.'
Karen, 45, a council clerical officer, said: 'We knew Pip liked chewing things but we had never known
her to eat anything.
'We couldn't believe she had swallowed the whole wand.
'She was a bit quiet but was still on her food so we didn't think anything was seriously wrong.
'We're on our guard now to keep things she could eat out of her way.
'She's doing fine now.'
Unfortunately, Pip did not have insurance at the time and her treatment cost in the region of £500 - an
issue Bridge practice administrator Hayley Burgess says the surgery is now trying to make families with
pets aware of.
Hayley said: 'A lot of people would have had to make an awful decision in that situation, and some may
even have had to put their pet to sleep because they couldn't afford treatment. Insurance can cost very
little, so we do recommend people insure their pets.'
The Bridge group has also been running a Christmas campaign this year to help make pet owners aware
of festive dangers posed to animals. The dangers on their list includes foreign objects - such as children's
toys - which are often left lying around the house at this time of the year.
The group's advice is to treat pets like curious children, and keep everything small out of their reach.
Following surgery, the staff and Pip's family were amazed to discover that the offending object was a toy
fairy wand.
Laura said: 'Luckily for Pip, it did not appear to have done any damage to her insides and she had a
good recovery.'
Ashleigh, who also lives with mum Karen, dad Stephen, 47, a builder, 16-year-old sister Abbey, and
twin toddler sisters, three-year-olds Emily and Beth, added: 'We had no idea what it could be that she'd
swallowed.'
Karen, 45, a council clerical officer, said: 'We knew Pip liked chewing things but we had never known
her to eat anything.
'We couldn't believe she had swallowed the whole wand.
'She was a bit quiet but was still on her food so we didn't think anything was seriously wrong.
'We're on our guard now to keep things she could eat out of her way.
'She's doing fine now.'
Unfortunately, Pip did not have insurance at the time and her treatment cost in the region of £500 - an
issue Bridge practice administrator Hayley Burgess says the surgery is now trying to make families with
pets aware of.
Hayley said: 'A lot of people would have had to make an awful decision in that situation, and some may
even have had to put their pet to sleep because they couldn't afford treatment. Insurance can cost very
little, so we do recommend people insure their pets.'
The Bridge group has also been running a Christmas campaign this year to help make pet owners aware
of festive dangers posed to animals. The dangers on their list includes foreign objects - such as children's
toys - which are often left lying around the house at this time of the year.
The group's advice is to treat pets like curious children, and keep everything small out of their reach.
Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group
© 2009 Associated Newspapers Ltd
I don't know how long the original article will be available on the Daily Mail's web site,
but here's the link as of December 25, 2009:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1238287/Christmas-miracle-dog-swallowed-toy-fairy-wand-length-body.html#
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group
© 2009 Associated Newspapers Ltd
I don't know how long the original article will be available on the Daily Mail's web site,
but here's the link as of December 25, 2009:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1238287/Christmas-miracle-dog-swallowed-toy-fairy-wand-length-body.html#
| Christmas wishes: Ashleigh Fisher (left) with her dog Pip and nursing assistant Laura Lamb. Pip was operated on after swallowing a toy fairy wand |