In April, the Shanahan family began to notice a change in their 3-year-old bulldog’s behavior. Mortimer started getting nauseous before he ate.
Emily Shanahan took Mortimer to the vet and the dog was prescribed a medicine, but it didn’t help. In fact, Mortimer stopped eating.
After growing even more concerned, Emily took Mortimer to MSPCA-Angell. It was there that X-rays revealed the horrifying reason Mortimer refused to eat.
Vets discovered 19 baby pacifiers in Mortimer’s stomach, according to the Associated Press.
Mortimer, the bull dog, ate 19 pacifiers.
19.
The incredible folks at @MspcaAngell got them out and now this good boy is back with his family and ready for belly rubs!
(Pics courtesy: Angell) pic.twitter.com/nv7RFz5xYL
— David Wade (@davidwade) June 20, 2019
Thankfully, the pacifiers were able to be removed without surgery and the 3-year-old bulldog has recovered.
While the thought of 19 pacifiers stuck inside a dog’s stomach is heartbreaking, the animal rescue and medical center doesn’t place blame on the owner.
In a series of tweets, they said Mortimer is a “cherished” pet whose owner did everything she could to make sure he got better.
What happened to Mortimer is VERY common. We remove all manner of items from the bellies of dogs every single day – pets whose families are diligent, responsible and loving. They are not serving of this kind of criticism.
— MSPCA-Angell (@MspcaAngell) June 21, 2019
Vets at MSPCA-Angell believe Mortimer had been stealing Emily’s two children’s pacifiers for months without anyone noticing.
19 pacifiers?! Poor Mortimer!
This just goes to show that even the most careful pet owners might not know what their four-legged friends are getting into.
If you notice a change in your pet’s behavior, it’s best to get them checked out.
Share this article so no other pet has to suffer like Mortimer.