Bruno needed emergency surgery to remove a toy arrow from his stomach after he swallowed it whole.

Four-month-old Cane Corso puppy, Bruno, bit off more than he could chew (literally) after swallowing a toy arrow whilst playing with his dog best friend Hugo.

The lively pup’s owner, Stacey (34), a primary school cook from Manchester, noticed that something wasn’t quite right with Bruno when he came in from the garden and started retching to try and remove something from his throat. Scared, Stacey felt around Bruno’s throat and thought that something could be stuck, so immediately contacted Manchester PDSA Pet Hospital – who told the pair to come straight down. 

When Bruno arrived, PDSA vets examined him and felt his throat – confirming Stacey’s suspicions that something was lodged inside. “It was so scary,” she recalls. To find out exactly what Bruno had swallowed, and how far down it reached, the vet team prepared Bruno for anaesthetic and x-rays, but nobody expected to see what was found.

The vets and vet nurses discovered that Bruno had swallowed an approximately 50cm long arrow from a toy bow and arrow set, which was stuck in his oesophagus (foodpipe). This was shocking enough but the x-ray also revealed that the arrow was still in one piece and that Bruno had swallowed it whole. “That was what shocked us all the most,” Stacey says, “that he’d managed to swallow the entire thing.”

The veterinary team knew they had to act fast to remove the arrow from Bruno’s body. So, he was taken straight to emergency surgery. Talking about Bruno’s condition, PDSA Vet Caragh Kelleher says: “The toy arrow that Bruno swallowed was so long that it extended from his throat all the way to his stomach.”

She continues: “The toy needed to be removed quickly as Bruno couldn’t have passed it himself and there was a high risk it could pierce through the stomach wall, causing life threatening peritonitis, as well as causing a blockage in his stomach – that would have been fatal if left untreated.”

Puppies are known for getting their paws on things they shouldn’t, which can have urgent consequences. It’s important to be aware of poisons and hazards that can cause serious problems for our pets and to contact your vet right away if your dog has eaten something harmful, as it could lead to emergency situations like Bruno’s.

Thankfully, the vet team were able to remove the toy arrow in one piece by operating on Bruno’s stomach. He was kept in the Pet Hospital overnight to make sure he recovered safely and was well enough to go home the next day. Stacey was given medication for Bruno, to keep him comfortable and free of pain, alongside antibiotics and antacids to help his throat and stomach heal so that he could recover fully at home.

“It would have been hard without PDSA,” Stacey says. “We’re so grateful, as it was an out-of-hours emergency, and he was seen to very quickly,” she adds. Bruno is now doing much better and is growing bigger by the day. “Bruno is our big baby, he’s a real gentle giant,” Stacey says, “he’s so soft with everyone. He’s become a massive part of our family.” 

Bruno’s treatment cost £987, which Stacey contributed to.

PDSA is the UK’s leading veterinary charity. Through our 48 Pet Hospitals and Pet Care scheme, we save the lives of poorly pets who would otherwise be left untreated.

Every year, we helped over 388,000 pets. Without us, emergency cases like Bruno's would be left untreated and many pets could lose their lives or be separated from families who love them.

We wouldn’t be here for dogs like Bruno without your support. Please consider donating today.

Where to next

Read more stories like Bruno's