Three-month-old English Bull Terrier puppy Delilah came in to see Vet Jen recently, as her owner was concerned that she might have managed to nibble a stud earring from her ear while giving kisses – and swallowed it!

As they weren’t 100% certain that Delilah had actually swallowed the earring, we decided to take an X-ray to check whether it was there, and if so, where it was.

As you can see from the image, the earring was clearly visible – but it had already passed out of her stomach and was making its way through her intestines. Because it was no longer in the stomach, we couldn’t give her an injection to make her sick and bring it back up. So it became a waiting game.

There was a low chance of it causing problems on the way out, but feeding bulky, fibrous food was advised to encourage safe passage. Delilah’s owners then had the delightful task of checking her poo to make sure the earring had come through!

As you can see, Delilah dutifully produced the earring, and we’re happy to say her story had a happy ending!

We often see dogs that have eaten all sorts of unusual foreign objects. If you think your dog may have swallowed something they shouldn’t have, it’s important to seek immediate veterinary attention. If your dog is showing symptoms, or if the object is large, sharp, or potentially toxic, your vet will likely carry out tests (such as X-rays) to locate and identify the item.

Treatment might involve using an endoscope to retrieve the object, or surgery if it’s lodged or causing a blockage. Your vet may recommend inducing vomiting if the object is still in the stomach – but this should only be done under veterinary supervision, as some objects can be dangerous if vomited.

Symptoms that may indicate a potential intestinal blockage include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Abdominal pain
• Difficulty defecating
• Retching or unusual coughing

If you’re unsure, the safest thing to do is to contact your vet for advice.

Accidents can and do happen, of course – but try to keep potentially risky objects out of your pet’s reach.