In the photo shared by her owner, Fern looks like a perfectly happy dog. Smiling, gentle, and almost proud, the 2-year-old Golden Retriever gives no hint of the huge scare she recently caused.
And yet, just a few days earlier, she had swallowed a stone.
The story was posted on Reddit on 24th February and immediately got thousands of users talking. Beneath the picture of Fern, one detail catches the eye: a bandage on her front paw. But behind this endearing image lies a veterinary emergency that cost nearly $8,000, or about £6,400.
A bit of mischief... gone wrong
Her owner explained that Fern loved to pick up stones. She would grab them, run around with them, and toss them in the air with a flick of her head. It was a harmless game, until one day the stone disappeared. Swallowed.
Worry quickly set in. Swallowing a foreign object can cause a digestive blockage or serious internal injuries, so they rushed her to the emergency vet. Scans confirmed the stone was inside her, and an operation was essential. The vet even suggested that the stone might have been in her system for some time before any symptoms appeared.
A happy ending, despite the bill
Despite the staggering sum, the owner took the whole ordeal in his stride. On Reddit, comments ranged from shock to humour, with many admitting their own dog could easily have done the same thing.
Today, Fern has fully recovered from her operation. She has her energy, appetite, and smile back.
