The Case of the Missing Gardening Glove

Owen, my 8-year-young Old English sheepdog, stole a leather gardening glove out of my back pocket as I was working in the yard. He ran, I chased him, but couldn’t catch him. By the time I reached him, he swallowed the glove whole. I brought him to the vet, who scheduled surgery the following day to retrieve the glove. I was very upset. Tthat same evening he swallowed the glove, I brought him out in the backyard to do his business. He started acting strange, so I ran over to him. He vomited up the glove. It was a beautiful sight (I know this sounds strange). All 5 fingers were intact on the glove. I was so happy and relieved that I screamed. My neighbors must have thought I was crazy! I called my vet that evening to report the news. We were both relieved and had a good chuckle. Gardening gloves are now kept on my hands or locked in the gardening shed.

Those sneaky Old English Sheepdogs! We’re glad Owen didn’t need surgery, but his story is good reminder to keep an eye on what your pet puts in his or her mouth. The ingestion of foreign objects requiring medical attention accounted for more than 7,800 claims in 2009 and cost pet owners more than 5.6 million! You’re the best line of defense in protecting your pet from swallowing something he or she shouldn’t. Be sure to take an inventory of items around your home that might be attractive to your pet – such as toys, utensils, hair ties, socks and underwear – and keep those things out of easy reach. While outdoors, be sure to remember that sticks, rocks, and bones are all commonly swallowed objects.