Removing a Pit from a “Pit”

Our veterinarians in Seattle discuss Pinky and the pit in her stomach

Pinky, the sweetest little Pit Bull, was adopted in May of 2010. Pinky is always making her owner laugh; “she’s a goofy dog and always up to no good”. Once Pinky discovered the orange sharpie marker in her owner’s car (before she started kenneling her) and decided to “nibble” on it while the owner shopped. Think very permanently orange dog AND car; orange paws, orange face, cheeks, stomach, and orange seats.

In August of 2011 Pinky came to see her Seattle veterinarian for her annual exam. Pinky already had a history of intestinal upset with certain foods but for the last 2-3 weeks she was waking up in the middle of the night and vomiting. Because of her past dietary sensitivities she was started on a prescription hypoallergenic diet. At first the vomiting resolved but in mid-September her vomiting started again. When Pinky came back to our  Seattle veterinary hospital for a follow-up exam her owner mentioned that Pinky had eaten a mango pit several months ago. Radiographs of her abdomen showed a mango pit still present in the stomach! We took Pinky to surgery that day and successfully removed the pit.

We are happy to report that since her surgery, Pinky has not vomited and her food allergy symptoms have been well controlled with her special diet.

Robin E. Riedinger, DVM Hawthorne Hills Veterinary Hospital, Seattle WA | Diagnosis, Foreign Body, Surgical Conditions, Treatment