A mischievous Cairn Terrier puppy named Pickle found herself in desperate need of veterinary care after swallowing an entire sock. At just four months old, Pickle grabbed a sock right off her owner’s mum’s foot and swallowed it whole, leading to a dangerous blockage in her stomach.
Pickle was rushed to EC Straiton Vets in Staffordshire, part of the VetPartners network, after the incident. The team acted swiftly when Pickle was unable to bring the sock back up naturally. Administering medication to induce vomiting proved unsuccessful, so the vets opted for a non-invasive approach using a gastroscope—a long, flexible tube with a camera and grabbing instruments.
Under anesthesia, the veterinary team carefully guided the gastroscope down Pickle’s throat and successfully extracted the sock without the need for surgery. Thanks to their expertise, Pickle was able to return home just hours later, none the worse for wear.
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Owner Rachel Bennett shared how the whole event unfolded. Her mother Gail was sitting down when Pickle tugged the sock off her foot and raced under the sofa. Although Gail tried to retrieve it, the sock disappeared quickly. Rachel’s husband, Luke, responded immediately, bringing Pickle to EC Straiton’s 24-hour emergency hospital in Penkridge.
Vet Craig McCreath, clinical director at the practice, explained, “Even though it was a small ankle sock, it was quite large relative to Pickle’s stomach and blocked the entrance to her digestive system. If left untreated, it could have caused a ruptured stomach and fatal peritonitis.”
Craig advised pet owners to seek urgent veterinary help if a pet swallows something unusual. “If the object is still in the stomach, a gastroscope may be used to remove it, avoiding invasive surgery. If it moves further into the digestive system, surgery may become necessary.”
Pickle’s habit of chewing and grabbing non-food items is something her family is now carefully managing. Rachel added, “We try to keep the floor clear, but she was so quick we didn’t stand a chance. Thankfully, she seems less interested in random objects now.”
Grateful for the emergency care, Rachel praised the skill and compassion of the EC Straiton Vets team. The practice has served Staffordshire’s pets, horses, and farm animals for over 80 years, providing comprehensive care that includes preventive services and complex surgeries.