7 of the weirdest festive items PDSA pet patients ate on Christmas
Christmas is often referred to as ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ but sadly some pets will need veterinary attention due to festive emergencies this year.
PDSA Veterans will also be joining us this Christmas period PDSA Pet Insurance Pet owners are being warned of certain risks to be aware of during this time.
PDSA veterinarian Shona Walsh explains: “Festive food, presents under the Christmas tree, decorations, and even the most common household items can tempt curious cats and dogs and put them at risk.
“During the festive period, we all eat things we shouldn’t, and many pets are no different. You will see many pets ingested and in need of emergency treatment.
“Last December alone, our veterinary team treated more than 53,000 pets, performed more than 61,000 consultations, and performed more than 2,300 surgeries, including some , would be related to the ingestion of hazardous substances at festivals.
“This Christmas, we urge pet owners to be careful with their paw pries as we revisit the seven strangest Christmas-themed objects eaten by our pet patients.”
7 of the weirdest Christmas-themed items eaten by PDSA pet patients
1. Fairy lights
Now, you don’t think fairy lights look delicious, do you? Think again! Cheeky Charlie underwent emergency surgery at Southampton Police Station after his family discovered he had eaten fairy lights. Fortunately, the glass didn’t cut my mouth or throat, and I didn’t bite the wires, which could have given me an electric shock when the lights were on. Thankfully, veterinarians performed life-saving surgery to remove the light and Charlie was able to go home with his family.
2. Tinsel
When Dexter was young, he was known for eating couches, carpets, and tinsel, but when Dexter’s family noticed the tinsel missing from the mantelpiece, they were convinced that their dog was the culprit. However, Dexter showed no signs of illness until later that night, when he began to feel unwell. The next morning, Dexter was taken to PDSA, where x-rays confirmed he had tinsel in his stomach. Veterinarians performed emergency surgery and Dexter’s owner was able to bring him home in time for Christmas.
3. Golf ball
If you’re planning on surprising your friends and family with golf-inspired gifts this Christmas, be careful around curious pets. When Azar, a Doberman, suddenly lost weight, his owner took him to the local PDSA veterinarian. To her surprise, they discovered that he had swallowed not one, but three golf balls. Sadly, two of the balls had entered his small intestine and he was at risk of stomach damage. It was a close call, but thankfully Hazard survived the surgery.
4. Star-shaped Christmas decoration
When a 5-month-old puppy called Charlie was vomiting and having trouble breathing, his concerned owners realized something was wrong. Charlie visited the local PDSA pet hospital where vets performed an X-ray and to their surprise, they found a star shining towards them. Veterinarians had to act quickly to remove the star-shaped decoration with forceps to prevent the puppy from choking.
5. Nintendo DS games
Rocco was about to have his game over when a PDSA veteran discovered the curious dog had swallowed a Nintendo DS game. He started vomiting and refused to eat, so his owner took him to PDSA Glasgow Shamrock Street Pet Hospital for an emergency appointment. Veterinarians discovered a rectangular object in his intestines during x-rays and immediately performed emergency surgery to remove it. They were stunned when they removed the video game cartridge from his small intestine, but thankfully Rocco survived and was able to go home the next day to rest and recover.
6. Decorating the Christmas tree
Leah’s owner was distraught when her cat started vomiting and losing weight. Her owners took her to Middlesbrough Police to get to the bottom of the problem, where they discovered Leah had eaten a small Christmas tree-shaped decoration. X-rays revealed the presence of a perfectly shaped Christmas tree in the cat’s abdomen. The vet performed emergency surgery to remove it and thankfully Leah was able to go home with her loving owners.
7. Spoon
Remember, pets can be attracted to even the most common household items. When I fed my Rottweiler Max strawberries and cream with a spoon, he bit off more than he could chew and ate the spoon as well. Max’s concerned owners took him to the local PDSA pet hospital. X-rays showed the spoon was firmly lodged in Max’s stomach, prompting emergency surgery to remove it. Thanks to PDSA veterans, Max survived.
PDSA is the UK’s largest veterinary charity, providing a vital service to pets across the UK whose owners are struggling to pay for the treatment of their sick or injured pets. For many vulnerable pets, PDSA comes to the rescue when their owners have nowhere else to turn.
the insurance arm of the charity; PDSA Pet InsuranceWe offer a variety of insurance policies to cover accident and illness for dogs and cats, as well as access to a 24/7 veterinary helpline. Every policy sold raises funds for the charity’s lifesaving veterinary work.
If you would like to learn more, please visit here www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-insurance-pdsa
