Hiro – The Curious Pup Who Swallowed a Bell

Name: Hiro
Breed: Poodle
Age/Sex: 4 months, Male
Weight: ~2.1–2.15 kg

Like many puppies, Hiro was full of mischief and energy—until one afternoon in early February, he suddenly became lethargic, uninterested in food and started vomiting. His concerned family brought him in to be seen urgently, and our vets quickly discovered something wasn’t right.

On abdominal palpation, Dr. Johnny noticed retching and a round, firm mass. X-rays confirmed it: Hiro had swallowed a bell—likely from a dog collar—and it was now lodged in his small intestine, causing a life-threatening blockage.

Tests and imaging revealed:

• A bell-shaped foreign body trapped in the jejunum (small intestine)
• Bloodwork showed stable values with mild electrolyte changes
• Severe intractable vomiting, poor appetite, and abdominal discomfort
• Risk of intestinal necrosis if left untreated

At just 4 months old and 2.15 kg, Hiro was a tiny patient with big risks. Under the care of Dr. Adam West, Hiro was anesthetized safely with:

• Propofol + ISO + lidocaine block
• Cerenia and Methadone for nausea and pain control
• Broad-spectrum antibiotics and IV fluids

The team performed a careful enterotomy to retrieve the bell, which had bruised the intestines but hadn’t caused perforation. The site was flushed, closed, omentalised, and Hiro was monitored closely in ISO due to his age and vaccine status.

Over the next few days, Hiro stayed at the hospital under 24-hour supervision. His post-op care included:

• Pain relief (Buprenorphine, then Temgesic)
• Multiple anti-nausea meds (Cerenia, Metoclopramide)
• Antibiotics (Unasyn, Clavulox)
• Small frequent meals (chicken mousse and GI diet)
• Incision care with Silver Sulfadiazine (Silvisulf)
  
   

Despite some initial regurgitation after anesthesia, Hiro quickly improved—he was bright, cuddly, and eating ravenously. His family was eager to bring him home, and since he’d only had one vaccine, early discharge was arranged to minimize infectious disease.

At his 10-day recheck with Dr. Adam, Hiro’s incision had healed beautifully. He had lost a little weight due to his restricted feeding plan, but he was back to his usual playful self—and even received his second vaccine that day. 

✅ Diagnosed and treated a life-threatening intestinal obstruction
✅ Successfully performed a foreign body enterotomy
✅ Managed a tiny pediatric patient with a carefully adapted anesthesia plan
✅ Provided pain management, anti-nausea support, and intensive post-op care
✅ Released early due to low infection risk tolerance (only 1 vaccine) with family support

🐾 Puppies explore the world with their mouths—keep small objects out of reach
 🐾 If your pet is vomiting, lethargic, or uninterested in food, seek help early
 🐾 Foreign body ingestion is more common than you think—early diagnosis is key
 🐾 After surgery, keep your pup calm, warm, and well-monitored
 🐾 Always ask your vet about how to care for young pets post-op, especially when unvaccinated

🎯 Sector 1: What Pet Owners Want to Know

1. How do I know if my dog has swallowed something dangerous?
    
2. What are the early signs of a blockage?
    
3. Why is surgery the only option in some cases?
    
4. Is it safe to operate on such a small puppy?
    
5. How should I prepare the home after my pup’s surgery?
    

🌡 Sector 2: Medical Highlights

1. What made you decide to do surgery that same day?
    
2. How did you minimize anesthesia risk in a 4-month-old puppy?
    
3. What’s the difference between enterotomy and enterectomy?
    
4. Why do you “omentalise” the surgery site?
    

🩺 Sector 3: Vet’s Community Message

1. What can other vets learn from Hiro’s case?
    
2. What’s your advice for pet-proofing homes for puppies?
    
3. Any tips on balancing hospital care vs infection risk for young animals?

 4. What role did teamwork play in Hiro’s recovery?