Emergency dash to vets saves dog who swallowed his ball

A dog who was close to death after accidentally swallowing a ball has been saved after an emergency dash to vets in Aberdeenshire.

Rocco, a three-year-old Doberman, was struggling to breathe and slipping into unconsciousness after his favourite toy became lodged in his throat.

Owner Ray Howell rushed him to Mintlaw Vets in Peterhead and staff were able to push the ball clear.

Rocco and the ball were once inseparable but he is now only allowed much larger toys to avoid any repeat of the mishap.

Rocco was taken in by the family after being rehomed from his previous owners in Orkney.

"When we met him off the ferry, this purple ball was his only possession," Ray explained.

"It was his favourite toy, and he carried it everywhere, so we've always made sure he had it."

While playing in the garden with the Peterhead family's other Doberman, Stella, they both ran into each other, forcing the ball down his throat.

"He was standing still, really oddly, and when I put my hand on his neck, I could feel the swelling of the bulge of the ball," Ray said.

"I knew I needed help fast and got him in the car without wasting any time trying to get it out. The vets are only a few miles away, but by the time we got there, he was only semi-conscious."

The vets sedated Rocco and by applying upward pressure were able to manipulate the ball back up his throat and remove it.

Rebecca Cooper, practice manager at Mintlaw Vets - part of the Pet Health Club network - said: "When Rocco arrived, it was clear immediately that we were dealing with a life-threatening emergency and had only minutes to act.

"Our training and teamwork kicked in instantly. Together, we were able to safely remove the obstruction just in time.

"Seeing him start to regain consciousness brought a huge sense of relief to everyone."

Rocco was given oxygen to help assist in his recovery and was able to go home the same day.

"It was all over so quickly," Ray said. "We've always supervised the dogs playing, which is why I saw what happened. But he's now got balls three times the size, so there's no danger of him swallowing one again."

Holly McKinley, deputy regional veterinary director at Pet Health Club, urged owners to take extra care with balls or other toys small enough to be swallowed and cause choking.

"It's important to choose balls and toys that are a suitable size for your breed," she said.