Puppy safe and sound after swallowing wedding ring
A miniature schnauzer puppy had to be operated on after she swallowed a wedding ring which was valued at R45 000 five years ago.
The dog was taken to the Bapsfontein Animal Hospital where vet Pieter Engelbrecht, co-owner of the facility and the Rynfield Veterinary Hospital, operated to remove the piece of jewellery, on May 24.
“There was no internal damage, the dog is doing fine,” the Rynfield resident said a day later.
“We’ve had all kinds of objects swallowed by animals in the past, but this is the first time in my 20 years as a vet that a dog has swallowed a wedding ring.”
The three-month-old puppy, called Ella, is owned and cared for by Adanté Höll (6), who lives in Delmas.
Her mother and owner of the ring, Avanya, spoke to the City Times and explained the series of events that led to the rare operation.
“I left the ring in a bowl on my dresser and took a quick shower,” Avanya said.
“When I got out, the ring and an earring were gone.
“My son, Charl (2) said the dog had swallowed the ring after he rolled it around on the floor.
“He said the dog also swallowed the earring.”
Avanya said the dog threw up the earring two days later, which confirmed her son’s story.
“No-one believed him, we did not think the dog had swallowed the jewellery,” she laughingly said.
“My uncle then took out his metal detector and waved it over Ella’s tummy and it beeped.
“We called the vet; they took X-ray images and said it would not come out by itself, they would have to operate.”
The family was on holiday in Phalaborwa with Ella, when she swallowed the ring.
Avanya said she was glad to have the ring back, as it carried heavy sentimental value.
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