Lost and found in dog’s belly

LUDHIANA: For the Sehgals, who stay in Rajguru Nagar, Sammy has been the apple of their eye for close to one-and-a-half years, ever since they welcomed the cuddly pug into their home. So their visit to the vet to check whether Sammy was pregnant threw up a completely different surprise — the X-Ray showed a diamond solitaire ring in the animal’s belly.
Elated at first that the ornament, which Sahib Sehgal had lost three days ago, was ‘secure’, the family is now tense. The reason? The vet says carrying out a surgery on Sammy could damage its health. The dilemma facing the Sehgals is whether they should wait for their pet to excrete the ring or put him on the operation table.
Talking to TOI, Kanika Sehgal said, ‘‘I had gifted the ring to my husband Sahib on his birthday on July 14. But then it went missing three days ago and we thought it was misplaced.’’
Saddened by the turn of events, she added, ‘‘I love my pet and don’t know whether we should just forget about the jewel or opt for surgery.’’
Veterinary doctor Jaspreet Singh Mauj said, ‘‘Surgery is the only option to take out the ring from the dog’s belly. However, the family could wait for the pet to excrete. The ring, if it does not move in the stomach, will not harm the pet.’’ Uncertain about what the future held, Sahib said, ‘‘Though this was the first gift that my wife gave me, I am very sad that the doctor has recommended surgery. The ring’s costly, but my pet’s health is more precious.’’
Rude Food Warning pet owners, Dr Jaspreet said, ‘‘A pet can explore his surroundings by sniffing, chewing or eating. Though the master might not care if the dog chews a rug, its fibres could harm the pet and cause problems in digestion. People need to lock away cleaning agents, pills, sharp objects and anything that could prove detrimental to a dog’s health.’’