Luna, a 7-month-old Bernese Mountain Dog, recently became the center of an extraordinary medical case at the Corona Animal Emergency Center in Corona, California. The young dog arrived with a firm, distended abdomen and was experiencing bouts of vomiting, leading her worried owners to seek immediate veterinary assistance. Multiple X-rays revealed a startling collection of foreign objects in Luna's stomach, including 24 socks, a onesie, a hair scrunchie, two hair ties, a shoe insert, and 15 miscellaneous cloth pieces.
The veterinary team, led by Dr. Jenny Elwell-Gerken, acted swiftly to address the situation. Luna was rushed into surgery to remove the foreign objects. The complex procedure lasted approximately 45 minutes, during which Dr. Jenny performed a gastrotomy to clear Luna's stomach and an enterotomy to remove the onesie that was causing an intestinal obstruction. The operation posed significant challenges as Luna's stomach was so stretched that Dr. Jenny had to employ sterile spoons to reach deeper corners.
"Removing foreign body obstructions is common in dogs," Dr. Jenny explained. "But I've never seen this many in my entire career."
The hospital frequently encounters cases of pets ingesting foreign items, yet the sheer volume of objects found in Luna's stomach set this case apart. Luna's penchant for eating socks was known to her parents, but they had not realized the extent of her eating habits until this incident. Typically, Luna managed to pass the socks she consumed, which may have masked the severity of her condition.
Dr. Jenny speculated that Luna likely ingested most of the socks on the day of the surgery and the onesie a day prior. Thankfully, Luna pulled through the surgery "against all odds" and has since made an impressive recovery.
"She's bouncing off the walls like nothing ever happened to her," Dr. Jenny reported after observing Luna on Thursday.
The Corona Animal Emergency Center used this unusual case as an opportunity to remind pet owners of the importance of monitoring their pets' behavior and taking swift action if anything seems amiss.
"Luna’s story is a reminder to trust your instincts," emphasized the Corona Animal Emergency Center. "If you notice vomiting, lethargy, or a firm abdomen, don’t wait—act fast and contact your vet."
"Prevention is key, but we’re here for emergencies 24/7," reassured the center.
The surgery itself was described by Dr. Jenny as nothing short of extraordinary.
"It was a crazy surgery for sure," she said. "All the staff watching me pull out thing after thing was fairly entertained."
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