Recently, Dandy, a seven-year-old dog, started showing signs of feeling unwell. She was struggling to keep down food and water. Her owner, Tori Shank, told The Dodo that she had been vomiting intermittently for a little over a week. As a radiology assistant at the MedVet Akron clinic in Ohio, US, Tori decided to bring her in for a check-up.
A suspicious mass on the scan
The ultrasound scan revealed what appeared to be a tumour in Dandy's stomach. Working in veterinary care, Tori feared the worst. As soon as she saw the image, she knew there was a mass. The clinic's surgeon explained that if they opened her abdomen, they might not be able to do anything because of the location. The family worried their beloved seven-year-old dog was near the end of her life.
An endoscopy instead of surgery
Rather than performing invasive surgery, the clinic used an endoscope — a flexible camera passed down through the mouth — to get a closer look at the mass. That was when they discovered what it actually was. "A whole yellow potato," said Tori. She was so relieved that she and the team shouted with joy. She estimated that the potato had been sitting in Dandy's stomach for at least two weeks. She remembered having potatoes at home, but had no recollection of the dog snatching one.
A speedy recovery
The potato was removed carefully. Dandy bounced back quickly afterwards, experiencing only a slightly sore throat for a few days. She has been doing brilliantly ever since, according to Tori. To mark the now famous incident, her owner even chose a fitting Halloween costume for her.
Repeated vomiting over several days always warrants a visit to the vet. In this case, the thorough examination spared the dog from major surgery. As for Tori, she plans to keep a much closer eye on her cheeky pup from now on.
Translated from the FR Wamiz website using artificial intelligence
