When a Dog Eats the Unexpected: Lessons from a Gastric Foreign Body Case

Dogs are naturally curious, but that curiosity can sometimes land them in the operating theatre. Whether it's a tennis ball, sock, toy, stick, or even a shuttlecock, foreign body ingestion remains one of the most frequent gastrointestinal emergencies encountered in small animal practice. While many objects pass harmlessly through the gastrointestinal tract, others become lodged in the stomach or pylorus, leading to obstruction, mucosal injury, and potentially life-threatening complications if intervention is delayed¹. 

A recently managed case involving an eight-month-old Pit Bull that accidentally swallowed a shuttlecock highlights why early recognition and timely surgical management can make all the difference. 

Not Every Gastric Foreign Body Presents Dramatically 

One of the biggest clinical challenges is that dogs with gastric foreign bodies do not always present with severe abdominal pain or obvious obstruction. 

Common clinical signs include¹: 

• Persistent or recurrent vomiting 

• Partial or complete anorexia 

• Lethargy 

• Weight loss 

• Intermittent regurgitation 

• Abdominal discomfort 

Interestingly, some dogs may show surprisingly mild physical examination findings despite harbouring a sizeable gastric foreign body. In the Pit Bull case, abdominal palpation failed to reveal any palpable abnormality even though a shuttlecock was lodged near the pylorus. 

This reinforces an important clinical lesson: a normal abdominal palpation should never exclude a gastric foreign body when the history strongly suggests ingestion. 

History Often Provides the Biggest Diagnostic Clue 

Owners frequently witness the ingestion event or report that an object has gone missing shortly before clinical signs develop. 

In this case, the owner reported that the dog had swallowed a shuttlecock the previous evening. Coupled with vomiting and depression, this immediately raised suspicion of gastric obstruction¹. 

Obtaining a detailed history remains one of the most valuable diagnostic tools. Asking about access to toys, clothing, bones, household objects, or children's play items can significantly narrow the list of differential diagnoses. 

Radiography Can Confirm the Diagnosis Quickly 

Survey abdominal radiographs remain the first-line imaging modality for suspected gastric foreign bodies². 

In the Pit Bull, lateral abdominal radiography demonstrated a radio-opaque structure consistent with a shuttlecock positioned near the pyloric region. Imaging not only confirmed the diagnosis but also guided surgical planning. 

Although radiography readily identifies radiopaque objects, clinicians should remember that many commonly ingested foreign bodies—including cloth, plastic, and rubber toys—may require contrast studies or abdominal ultrasonography for detection². 

When Is Gastrotomy the Best Option? 

Not every gastric foreign body requires surgery. Small, smooth objects may pass spontaneously or be retrieved endoscopically if facilities are available. 

However, gastrotomy becomes the treatment of choice when¹: 

• The object is too large to pass through the pylorus. 

• Gastric outflow obstruction is present. 

• Endoscopic retrieval is unsuccessful or unavailable. 

• Sharp or irregular objects pose a high risk of perforation. 

• Persistent vomiting indicates ongoing obstruction. 

In this case, surgical exploration confirmed not only the shuttlecock but also an unexpected tablet wrapper lodged within the stomach, emphasising that dogs often ingest multiple foreign objects during a single episode. 

Successful Surgery Depends on Careful Technique 

Gastrotomy is generally associated with an excellent prognosis when performed before gastric perforation or severe tissue compromise develops. 

Several surgical principles contribute to success¹: 

• Exteriorise the stomach adequately. 

• Isolate the surgical field with laparotomy sponges to prevent abdominal contamination. 

• Incise the relatively less vascular gastric wall between the greater and lesser curvatures. 

• Retrieve all foreign material before closure. 

• Thoroughly lavage the surgical site if contamination occurs. 

• Close the stomach securely using an appropriate two-layer inverting closure. 

Meticulous tissue handling and contamination control minimise postoperative complications such as leakage and peritonitis.¹ 

Postoperative Care Is Just as Important 

Successful recovery extends well beyond the operating room. 

Following gastrotomy, patients benefit from¹: 

• Intravenous fluid therapy to correct dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. 

• Broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy when indicated. 

• Gastric acid suppression. 

• Appropriate analgesia. 

• Gradual nutritional reintroduction, progressing from fasting to liquid, soft, and finally normal diets. 

• Routine wound monitoring and follow-up examinations. 

In the reported case, the dog recovered uneventfully, resumed feeding gradually after three days, and had skin sutures removed on postoperative day ten. 

Don't Forget the Electrolytes 

Dogs experiencing prolonged vomiting secondary to gastric obstruction frequently develop metabolic disturbances, particularly: 

• Hypochloremia 

• Hypokalaemia 

• Metabolic alkalosis 

Prompt intravenous fluid therapy, often using balanced crystalloids such as Ringer's Lactate, plays an essential role in correcting these abnormalities before and after surgery. 

Clinical Take-Home Message 

Foreign body ingestion remains one of the most common surgical emergencies in canine practice. While the objects ingested may vary—from socks and toys to the unusual shuttlecock described in this case—the diagnostic principles remain the same. 

A reliable history, timely imaging, appropriate patient stabilisation, and prompt surgical intervention when indicated consistently lead to excellent outcomes. 

Perhaps the biggest reminder from this case is that dogs rarely stop at swallowing just one object. A thorough intraoperative examination of the stomach should always be performed to ensure no additional foreign material is left behind. 

Specialization: Veterinary Surgery & Radiology 

Keywords: canine gastric foreign body, gastrotomy in dogs, gastric obstruction, foreign body ingestion, diagnostic radiography, canine surgery, gastrointestinal obstruction 

References

1. Mahesh V, Sunil CL, Karajagi G, Nagaraja BN. Surgical retrieval of rare gastric foreign body in a dog. Indian J Canine Pract. 2023;15(2):143–145. http://www.indianjournalofcaninepractice.com/december2023/IJCP-December-2023-Vol-15-iss-2-pp143-145.pdf

2. Meomartino L, Costanza D, Matarazzo M, Damiano N, Del Treste A, Sangiuliano C, Greco A. Imaging of gastrointestinal foreign body obstructions in dogs and cats. European Journal of Radiology Open. 2026 Jun 1;16:100753. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352047726000304