A veterinary practice in Gloucester is urging dog owners to exercise caution when selecting treats after a seven-year-old Springer Spaniel, Humphrey, required emergency surgery to remove a pig’s trotter lodged in his throat.
Humphrey’s owners rushed him to Wood Vets veterinary hospital in Quedgeley after he began vomiting and ceased passing stools following the ingestion of the pig’s trotter. Immediate X-rays revealed the treat was firmly stuck in his oesophagus, causing a dangerous blockage.
Vet Lucy Saye, who performed the surgery, explained that the pig’s trotter had become tightly wedged between Humphrey’s oesophagus and stomach entrance. Attempts to remove it non-surgically failed due to its size and position.
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“The surgery was particularly challenging because the trotter was located inside Humphrey’s chest near the base of his heart,” Lucy said. “To avoid the risks of accessing the oesophagus directly through the chest, I made an incision into the stomach and carefully extracted the trotter through the cardiac sphincter.”
Thanks to the swift actions of his owners and the skilled veterinary team, Humphrey survived this life-threatening ordeal. Had the trotter not been removed, it could have ruptured his oesophagus and prevented food from reaching his stomach.
Following surgery, Humphrey remained at Wood Vets for a week, receiving round-the-clock care and nourishment through a feeding tube due to oesophageal damage. Lucy emphasized the risks associated with feeding pig’s trotters and other bones to dogs.
“Pig’s trotters and bones can splinter or become lodged, causing serious injury or fractures. Rawhide chews also pose swallowing hazards and can obstruct the gastrointestinal tract. It’s best to avoid these treats entirely,” she advised.
The O’Leary family, Humphrey’s owners, praised the Wood Vets team for their exceptional care. Having previously given pig’s trotters as treats to Humphrey and their other dog, Harper, they have now ceased this practice.
“It’s shocking how unwell Humphrey became from what we thought was a simple treat. We’re incredibly grateful to the vets for saving his life,” said Hettie O’Leary. “We urge other dog owners to avoid pig’s trotters and bones to prevent such traumatic experiences.”
Wood Vets is a 24-hour, fully equipped veterinary hospital in Quedgeley, part of VetPartners—a network of veterinary practices across the UK and Europe dedicated to providing top-tier animal healthcare.