A Game of Fetch Turned into an Emergency After Puppy Gets 20cm Stick Lodged in Throat

A playful afternoon nearly ended in tragedy for 13-month-old Mastiff puppy Sidney, after a 20cm stick became deeply lodged in his throat during a game of fetch in a Belfast park.

The stick travelled so far into his airway that it disappeared from view completely, coming dangerously close to puncturing vital structures in his neck.

Thanks to fast thinking from his owner and urgent treatment from our Vets Now Belfast team, Sidney survived a situation that could easily have been fatal.

How the incident unfolded

Sidney was out on a routine walk with his owner, Elaine, at Ormeau Park in South Belfast when the incident happened.

Like many dogs, he loved chasing sticks and had been playing fetch when something suddenly went wrong.

Elaine remembers hearing a sharp yelp from a distance.

“This is the kind of thing that happens all the time in parks without issue, but I knew straight away something wasn’t right,” she said.

When Sidney returned, he was clearly in distress and refused to let Elaine look inside his mouth, which was unusual behaviour for him.

A passer-by tried to help, but Sidney remained too uncomfortable to be examined.

Realising the situation was serious, Elaine lifted him into her arms and rushed to her car to seek urgent help.

With her regular vet closed, she drove directly to our out-of-hours Vets Now clinic in Belfast.

Inside our Vets Now clinic

Emergency vet Sasha Burns Fraser was on duty when Sidney arrived at the clinic.

Although Sidney was given pain relief, he was still too distressed to allow a proper examination, so sedation was required to safely assess his injuries.

Once sedated, vets suspected a foreign object was lodged deep within the throat, but nothing could be seen at first glance.

Sasha explained that stick injuries can be particularly difficult to diagnose because they don’t show up clearly on x-rays.

“I could feel something on the right-hand side of his windpipe, but I couldn’t be sure exactly what it was,” she said.

After carefully identifying a tiny wound under Sidney’s tongue, Sasha discovered a small entry point where the stick had penetrated.

Using forceps, she began a careful extraction.

What followed surprised even the experienced veterinary team.

“It just kept getting longer and longer,” she said. “It ended up being 20cm long – longer than my hand.”

Despite the severity of the injury, the stick had not punctured the oesophagus or windpipe, avoiding potentially life-threatening complications.

The area was flushed, treated, and the wound closed.

The 20cm stick vets removed from Sidney's throat at Vets Now Belfast,

Hospital stay and early recovery

Sidney remained at the clinic overnight on intravenous fluids and antibiotics before being transferred back to his daytime vets the following day.

For a short period, he was only able to eat soft food, but his condition quickly improved.

Once home in East Belfast, he gradually returned to his usual mischievous behaviour, including stealing socks and attempting to chew anything within reach.

Elaine said the recovery felt like nothing short of a miracle.

“To see him now compared to how he was, it’s incredible. He’s completely back to himself,” she said.

The hidden danger of sticks

Our Vet team involved in Sidney’s care say his case is far from unique.

Sticks can splinter easily and cause deep puncture wounds in the mouth, throat, or further down the airway. These injuries are often difficult to detect and can become rapidly life-threatening.

Sasha emphasised the importance of quick action:

“Elaine did exactly the right thing getting him to us straight away – every minute really does matter in cases like this.”

Safer choices for playtime

Following incidents like Sidney’s, vets strongly advise against throwing sticks for dogs.

Safer alternatives include:

• Rubber balls designed for dogs

• Purpose-made retrieval toys

• Durable training bumpers

These reduce the risk of splintering and serious internal injury.

Sidney’s story is a reminder that even familiar games like fetch can carry serious risks, and that choosing safer toys can make all the difference.

To find your nearest Vets Now clinic for any out-of-hours emergencies, click here.