Ham, a two-year-old Pug cross, was always the life of the house, full of energy and excitement at the smallest things. But recently, her mom, Victoria Northwood, noticed something wasn’t right. Her usually lively pup seemed a bit under the weather, and her concern grew.
Worried about Ham’s health, Victoria decided it was time to call the vet. Although the doctor didn’t initially think it was anything serious, he advised bringing Ham in, just to be safe. Little did Victoria know, this visit would reveal something truly shocking.
An Unexpected Revelation
Photo Credit: Yeovilandsherbornevets
Upon arriving at the Newtone Clarke Veterinary Surgery, Ham was quickly X-rayed. The vet noticed something unusual in her stomach, but couldn’t immediately identify what it was. After a second look, he had a hunch but chose not to alarm Victoria without certainty.
It was decided that Ham needed surgery, and the vet handed her over to Emily Whitby, a skilled veterinary surgeon. After the surgery, Emily delivered news that left everyone stunned. According to the BBC, Emily revealed that they had removed “around 50 to 60 hairbands” from Ham’s stomach.
The shock didn’t end there—those hairbands weighed almost 7 ounces. Considering Ham herself weighs only about 2 pounds, it was a miracle she could function with all that inside her tiny body.
Victoria was immensely relieved that the surgery was successful, but she couldn’t shake the shock of what had happened. “We knew she ate the odd hair band as we had noticed them coming out the other end, but nothing prepared us for the amount they found in there,” she shared with the BBC.
Back to Her Playful Self
Photo Credit: Yeovilandsherbornevets
Ham’s stay at the clinic was brief, as the doctors allowed her to recover at home shortly after the surgery. In a Facebook post, NCVS shared that Ham was on the mend and had already returned to her playful ways. They jokingly added, “She is back to causing mischief at home (and hopefully, no longer on the hunt for hairbands!).”
Though relieved that Ham was okay, Victoria made a promise to be more vigilant in the future. “We were really shocked that this could happen and so grateful to the vets for their vigilance and for listening to us when we went to them with a hunch that all was not well,” Victoria said. “We are keeping a much closer eye on her now—it is such a relief that she is okay.”
This heartwarming story serves as a reminder to always trust your instincts when it comes to your pets’ health and to stay vigilant to keep them safe.
