22/06/2026
Chloe's Story 🥰
Chloe presented to the PDSA with difficulty swallowing for about 3-4 weeks. On examination, it was found that she had a big swelling around her throat. Dr Stephanie referred her to Vitalvet for a further work-up and more diagnostic tests 🙌
An X-ray was taken and a foreign body was seen with some swelling around the oesophagus. It was decided that a scope will be necessary to retrieve the foreign body.
An oesophageal scope is a procedure where a thin, flexible tube, which has a light and camera at its tip, is entered through the mouth into the oesophagus. When the scope was inserted, the bone was visible and lodged into the oesophageal wall. Dr Helen was able to retrieve it with a specialised oesophageal foreign body forceps.
Due to the fact that the bone was stuck there for a few weeks, the damage to Chloe’s oesophagus was quite extensive and there is a great risk of an oesophageal stricture forming (abnormal narrowing of the oesophagus), thus a follow up scope will be done in a months time to make sure everything has healed well and to evaluate for any signs of stricture formation.
For now Chloe is happy and on the recovery path, able to eat and swallow normally again 😄
044 050 6000 | www.vitalvet.co.za | Emergencies: 072 088 1957
