What began as a frightening ordeal and a possible cancer diagnosis for a St. Bernard turned from heartbreak to relief when it turned out the mass on the dog’s spleen was actually a big ol’ pile of swallowed dog toys.
When 8-year old St. Bernard, Maisy began showing signs of severe sickness including a very full stomach, her family rushed her to the veterinarian for help. The dog was given a CT scan which revealed a large mass on her spleen, leading doctors to fear the worst.
Maisy’s CT scan revealed a large mass on her spleen, leading to a possible cancer diagnosis. Image: Paragon Veterinary Referrals
When veterinarian Nick Blackburn of Paragon Veterinary Referrals began the operation to remove Maisy’s spleen and the suspected tumor, what he found instead was both a shock and a relief.
It wasn’t cancer at all – in fact, Maisy had a tummy full of toys.
Dr. Blackburn told BBC, “…this was not something we were expecting to find. We all know certain dogs enjoy chewing things they shouldn’t but managing to devour four full teddy bears is quite a feat.”
It turns out the swallowed teddy bears and stuffed toys were stolen from the family’s Chihuahuas.
Thankfully, since surgery, Maisy has made a full recovery and is showing zero signs of cancer.
