Endoscopic removal of foreign bodies
Removal of a swallowed object from the oesophagus or stomach through the mouth, with an endoscope, without an incision. The sooner after swallowing, the greater the chance that surgery can be avoided — call before you come.
Mon–Fri 9–19, Sat 9–13 · tel. +48 74 660 62 68. Outside opening hours, on Sundays and on public holidays, the nearest 24-hour animal hospitals are SKVet Klinika Weterynaryjna (ul. Stabłowicka 109b, Wrocław, tel. 791 998 999) and Klinika Psa i Kota (ul. B. Krzywoustego 105/22, 51-166 Wrocław, tel. 71 339 82 48).
What it involves
Dogs swallow socks, bones, toys, fish hooks, stones, fruit stones and many other things; cats swallow thread, elastic bands and needles. If the object is still in the oesophagus or stomach, in many cases it can be grasped with forceps, a snare or a basket passed through a flexible endoscope and pulled out through the mouth. The animal wakes up with no wound and no stitches, and usually eats the same day.
Endoscopy is the method of first choice for foreign bodies in the oesophagus — where surgery is difficult and carries complications — and for objects in the stomach, provided their size and shape allow them to be drawn safely through the oesophagus. Once the object has passed into the intestines, the endoscope cannot reach it; surgery is then needed.
We make the decision based on X-rays and assessment of the patient. If during endoscopy it turns out that the object cannot be removed safely, the patient goes to the operating theatre under the same anaesthetic — we do not lose time transferring between facilities.
When it is used
Immediately after you notice the swallowing or suspect it (a missing toy, string visible in the mouth or under the tail, sudden drooling, vomiting, choking). During opening hours, call before you set off — we will have everything ready and see you without a referral. Outside opening hours, use a 24-hour animal hospital.
Do not induce vomiting yourself and do not wait to see “whether it will pass by itself” — an object in the stomach can remain easy to remove for a week, whereas the same object in the intestine means urgent surgery.
Indications: symptoms that should prompt a visit
- A dog has swallowed a sock, a piece of a toy, a bone or a stone and is still eating and drinking normally.
- A cat has been playing with thread or an elastic band and is now drooling, choking, or has a piece visible under the tongue or at the anus.
- An animal has swallowed a fish hook with line — do not pull on the line, come in immediately.
- A dog suddenly drools heavily, makes repeated empty swallowing movements, stretches its neck and refuses food.
- After eating a bone, a dog brings up food right after eating — a foreign body in the oesophagus is possible.
- A dog has eaten an object containing magnets or batteries — this is particularly urgent because of the risk of damage to the walls of the digestive tract.
- An object is visible in the stomach on an X-ray taken for another reason.
Conditions for which we use it in particular
Diagnostics beforehand
After admission we examine the patient and take X-rays of the abdomen and chest in two views: they show where the object is (oesophagus, stomach, intestine), whether it is radio-opaque (bones, metal, stones) and whether there are signs of obstruction or perforation. For objects not visible on X-ray (fabric, plastic, rubber) we supplement the examination with abdominal ultrasound or a contrast X-ray.
Before anaesthesia we take blood for a blood count and biochemistry (STD-01) and check hydration — an animal that has been vomiting for several days needs fluid therapy before the procedure. The decision on whether the object is suitable for endoscopy is based on its size, shape, sharp edges and location.
How it proceeds
We perform the procedure under general anaesthesia with intubation and monitoring (STD-02); a cuffed endotracheal tube protects the airway should stomach contents come back up while the object is being withdrawn. We pass the endoscope through the mouth, locate the foreign body, assess the state of the mucosa around it and choose the instrument: grasping forceps, a snare, a basket or a net. We draw the object to the tip of the endoscope and withdraw it together with the scope; we shield sharp edges with a cap or turn the object so that it does not injure the oesophagus.
After removal we examine the oesophagus and stomach again, checking for damage or further fragments (socks rarely come singly). The procedure usually takes 20–60 minutes. If the object is too large, wedged, or has passed into the intestine, the patient moves to the operating theatre under the same anaesthetic — we discuss this possibility before we start.
The patient wakes up in the in-patient hospital and in most cases goes home the same day. After removal of a foreign body from the oesophagus with mucosal damage, we may keep the patient for observation and protective treatment; the lead veterinarian decides on overnight supervision.
Aftercare
On the evening after the procedure, give a small portion of soft, easily digestible food; for 2–3 days feed more often and in smaller portions. After removal from the oesophagus, give the protective medicines and a soft, mashed diet as set out in the discharge instructions for 7–14 days. There is no wound, so there is no collar and no stitches.
Call if vomiting, drooling, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite for more than a day, fever or weakness returns — this may mean damage to the wall or another fragment. It is also worth talking about securing your home: dogs that have swallowed a sock once usually do it again.
Frequently asked questions
Can everything be removed with an endoscope?
No. Size, shape, sharpness and location decide. An object in the intestine, or one that is very large or wedged, requires surgery — in that case the patient goes to the operating theatre under the same anaesthetic.
Can I give my dog something at home to make it vomit?
No. Inducing vomiting with sharp, large or corrosive objects is dangerous (damage to the oesophagus, aspiration). Call us — in some cases we induce vomiting with a medicine under supervision, in others we go straight to endoscopy.
My dog ate a sock yesterday and looks fine. Can I wait?
It is better not to. While the sock is in the stomach, removing it is a short procedure with no incision. Once it passes into the intestine, surgery will be necessary, and obstruction is life-threatening.
How long does recovery take after endoscopic removal?
Usually 1–2 days. The animal eats on the evening after the procedure, and there is no wound or stitches. If the oesophagus has been damaged, recovery and the soft, mashed diet last up to two weeks.
We manage every case individually. The scope, indications and course described above are indicative; we agree the exact diagnostic and treatment plan during the consultation. This content is for information only and does not replace a veterinary consultation.
Do you have questions about endoscopic removal of foreign bodies?
Call us or book a consultation. We will set out the diagnostic and treatment plan in writing, before you decide.