Vets fighting to save the life of a sick dog were amazed to find that the pooch had a pair of socks stuck down his throat. Owner Jessica Dewhurst said she feared the worst when her 13-year-old Border Collie, Jip, mysteriously started to choke late at night at their family home.
She then brought the beloved pet to an animal surgery, where vets had just minutes to save the poor pooch who was struggling to breathe and almost unresponsive. Vet Lauren Jolley and nurse Leanne Boyd then sedated Jip and took X-rays, expecting to find tumours on his chest because of his senior age.
But to their surprise, these revealed a pair of socks blocking Jip’s airwaves, and Lauren then carefully put forceps down his throat to remove the unwanted items. Moments before they almost carried out a tracheostomy - a surgical incision in the windpipe to relieve an obstruction to breathing - as Jip had been on the verge of dying.
Speaking about the incident Lauren said: “We were very surprised to see the socks. He is 13 years old, chewing is not your typical behaviour at that age. If he had got here any later, he would have died.”
Jip, who is owned by Jessica, her partner Steven and daughter Delilah, is a much-loved family pet who has a habit of chewing objects. And Jessica paid tribute to the team at Stanley House Vets, in Colne, Lancs., for their quick actions in the middle of the night which saved his life.
She said: “As we were putting Jip in the car, I thought he was taking his last breath. He had gone floppy. He couldn’t breathe. I said my goodbyes. I was distraught. Initially, they thought they were going to have to cut a hole in his throat to get oxygen through.
“Then, shortly afterwards, I got a phone call and they said he was absolutely fine. They had managed to pull a pair of socks out. It was the best outcome. They were brilliant with him. He has bounced back to his normal self and is absolutely fine.
She added: “Jip is terrible for chewing things. He has chewed the odd sock or shoe before.
"Normally, it is a single sock and I find half a sock in the front room. On this occasion, there were only the toes left.
“I am guessing he had chewed the end off and then swallowed the rest, and it was too large and blocked his airwaves. I don’t bundle my socks anymore!”
