Puppy swallows 10-inch tent peg

A three-month-old puppy has survived after swallowing a metal tent peg that was almost as long as its body.

Vets discovered the 10-and-a-half inch peg when Staffordshire bull terrier Disa was taken to a veterinary surgery with a stomach upset.

An X-ray revealed the real cause of her stomach problems and she had emergency surgery at Sheffield's PDSA hospital.

Owner Peter Jones, of Rotherham, said Disa had made a full recovery, but they would not be taking her camping.

I was so shocked when the vet rang me to say they had discovered a tent peg in her abdomen Owner Peter Jones

He said she first started being sick after being fed at home and let into the garden to play.

At first he thought it was the food making her ill, but when her condition worsened he took her to the vets.

"I was so shocked when the vet rang me to say they had discovered a tent peg in her abdomen," he said.

"I can't even understand how she managed to swallow it, as she isn't much longer than the peg itself."

Life-threatening

PDSA senior veterinary surgeon Liz Airey said she had never seen a case like it in 15 years of working with small animals.

"When Disa was first admitted, we suspected a foreign body may be to blame but didn't expect it to be so big," she said.

"We operated immediately to remove it as it could have proved fatal."

Disa was allowed home the following day and Mr Jones said she had made an amazing recovery.

"The next day she was bouncing round like normal. We were worried that her stitches would come out," he said.

"I'm really grateful to PDSA for all they have done. We certainly won't be taking Disa camping though."