Dog's life saved by emergency surgery after swallowing favourite tennis ball

A dog had to undergo life-saving surgery after struggling to breathe due to swallowing a whole tennis ball in Aberdeenshire.

Three-year-old Rocco was playing in his family garden when he swallowed the tennis ball, and was subsequently rushed to Mintlaw Vets in Peterhead.

The doberman was struggling to breathe and was slipping into unconsciousness as owner Ray Howell frantically raced to the vets.

He had went home from work at lunchtime and was watching Rocco and the family’s other Doberman, Stella, play in the garden when the accident happened.

Rocco was a rescue taken in by the family after suffering abuse at his previous home. Supplied

“Stella had a ball, too, and Rocco decided to pick up both of them,” Ray said.

“He had both in his mouth when he ran straight into Stella, and it forced his ball down his throat.

“He was standing still, really oddly, and when I put my hand on his neck, I could feel the swelling of the bulge of the ball.

“I knew I needed help fast and got him in the car without wasting any time trying to get it out.”

After arriving at the vet, the team started work on releasing the ball from Rocco’s throat.

By applying firm upward pressure to Rocco’s throat, they were able to manipulate the ball out of his mouth in time.

He was given oxygen to help assist in his recovery and Ray was allowed to take him home the same afternoon before bringing him back for checks the following day.

“It was all over so quickly, but it was so scary,” he added.

“We’ve always supervised the dogs playing, which is why I saw what happened. But he’s now got balls three times the size, so there’s no danger of hi swallowing one again.”

“The vets are only a few miles away, but by the time we got there, he was only semi-conscious.

“We’ve always supervised the dogs playing, which is why I saw what happened. But he’s now got balls three times the size, so there’s no danger of hi swallowing one again.”

Rocco was a rescue taken in by the family after suffering abuse at his previous home in Orkney.

Ray said: “When we met him off the ferry, this purple ball was his only possession.

“It was his favourite toy, and he carried it everywhere, so we’ve always made sure he had it.”

Holly McKinley, deputy regional veterinary director at Pet Health Club, has urged owners to take extra care with balls or other toys small enough to be swallowed and cause choking.

She said: “It’s important to choose balls and toys that are a suitable size for your breed.

“Most dog balls and toys include a size guide to help you choose the right size for your dog.

“If in doubt, you should err on the side of caution and choose a ball slightly larger than you think they’ll need to reduce the risk of choking.

“If a ball does become lodged, you should contact your vet immediately.

“If you can see the object in your dog’s mouth, then you could try to gently remove it with your fingers.

“It’s very important not to push it down further and be careful not to injure yourself in the process. If you can’t easily remove it, stop and go to your vet immediately.

“If the object is lodged deeper in the throat, then it’s not advisable to attempt to remove it as you may end up causing further damage. The best thing you can do is get to your vet as quickly as possible.”