Be Careful What You Fish For!

I’ve done a lot in my first few weeks at VPI but one of the more interesting parts has been reviewing the unusual claims we receive and reading the stories submitted to the Hambone Award® site by our readers. And while last year we had Quincy, who inhaled a fishhook while ice fishing in the winter, it now seems that lately many pet owners have gone fishin’ for the summer. In the past few months we’ve seen claims for a few unlucky dogs snagged by fishhooks, including Rosie who we posted about in April, and several cats that swallowed fishing line. And then there is Siggy, a 100-pound blue Doberman pinscher that swallowed everything but the sinker.

VPI policyholder David Cawthon, submitted Siggy’s story,which starts with the pair walking near a waterway after a heavy rain in their hometown of Houston, Texas. David stopped next to a group of kids that were fishing for catfish to take pictures of the fast-running water, which was at its highest level in years.

While David was taking pictures, one of the kids went to get a drink and left his pole lying on the ground baited with a piece of liver the size of a strawberry. David looked just in time to see Siggy swallow the liver, hook and all! Before he could even try to pull it out, the hook was in her stomach with the line running out of her mouth.

Thinking quickly, David cut the fishing line, tied the end onto Siggy’s collar, and took her to the emergency clinic. X-rays confirmed the fishhook was in her stomach, with 18 inches of fishing line attached. The veterinarian had to surgically remove both the hook and the line. Fortunately, Siggy recovered quickly and David’s pet insurance policy helped him pay the rather unexpected $2,300 bill.

I spoke with Dr. Silene Young, Director of Professional Services here at VPI, and asked her what you should do if your pet gets accidentally hooked. Her advice was to never try and pull the hook out, even if it is visible. As any fisherman knows, the barbs on the end of fishhooks are a pain to unsnag and can cause a lot of damage when pulled back out. The best idea is to leave the hook in and take your pet to the veterinarian who will probably cut the hook and push the barbed end out from the back.

So if your summer plans include fishing, or if you and your pet are going to be around people who are fishing, watch out for hooks and stay alert to avoid a potentially costly trip to the veterinarian.