Ham, a two-year-old Pug mix, has always been an exuberant and cheerful dog who would bark with excitement at the smallest things around her.
Recently, however, her owner, Victoria Northwood, noticed that something seemed off, as her beloved companion wasn’t feeling her best.
Concerned for her pet’s health, Victoria reached out to the veterinarian. Although the doctor believed it might not be a serious issue, he advised her to bring Ham in for a check-up just to be sure.
Neither Victoria nor the veterinarian could have predicted the remarkable events that would unfold that day.
Total Shock
Upon Victoria’s arrival at the Newton Clarke Veterinary Surgery, Ham was immediately examined with X-rays. Initially, the veterinarian observed an unusual mass in her stomach, but he couldn’t definitively identify what it was.
Though the vet had an inkling about the cause, he hesitated to share his thoughts upfront, not wanting to distress Victoria.
Ultimately, he concluded that Ham would need surgery, so he promptly referred her to his colleague, Emily Whitby, a skilled veterinary surgeon.
Once the surgery was successfully performed, Emily delivered some astounding news. According to the BBC, she reported that “approximately 50 to 60 hairbands were extracted from her stomach.”
This revelation was astonishing in itself, but there was even more astounding information. According to NCVS’s Facebook post, the hairbands collectively weighed around 7 ounces.
Given that Ham weighs roughly 2 pounds, it is astonishing that she was functioning at all with that excessive material inside her.
As for Victoria, she was thrilled that the surgery was successful but remained in disbelief about the recent events.
“We were aware that she had chewed a few hair bands, as we noticed them appearing later, but we were unprepared for the sheer quantity found in her,” Victoria expressed to the BBC.
Back to Her Mischiefs
The adorable Ham didn’t spend much time at the clinic, as the veterinary team soon permitted her to recover in the comfort of her home.
According to a post by NCVS on Facebook, Ham is gradually recuperating, yet they also noted: “She is already getting back to her mischievous ways at home (hopefully, she’s no longer searching for hairbands!).”
While Victoria was relieved about the happy outcome, she also vowed to prevent such an incident from occurring again.
“We were truly taken aback that this could take place, and we are incredibly thankful to the veterinarians for their attentiveness and for heeding our concerns when we approached them,” Victoria remarked. “We are now keeping a much sharper watch on her — it’s such a relief to know she’s okay.”
