French bulldog Beefcake is on a strict diet following emergency life-saving surgery at Lort Smith Animal Hospital last week. The four-year-old dog is back at his home in Keilor Downs after vets removed four rubber ducks from his stomach and intestine.

Tabatha brought her dog into Lort Smith after he had been vomiting and refusing to eat for two days. Upon examination vets could feel something wasn’t right,

“The vet’s said they could feel something in his belly,” said Tabatha.

Lort Smith vets took x-ray images which revealed three rubber ducks in his stomach and one in his intestine. Vets performed emergency surgery to remove the rubber ducks from Beefcake.

It is unclear when the five-centimetre-sized rubber ducks were consumed.

“The rubber ducks that Beefcake ate were severely discoloured and are smaller than the unconsumed rubber ducks, suggesting they had been consumed some time ago,” said Lort Smith Vet Dr Paula.

“Beefcake is lucky he came to us in time. If he had been left in this state much longer the damage could have been more severe.

“Dogs love chew toys. It is important to ensure your dog has access to toys that are big enough not to swallow, made of safe material, are durable, and have no small parts.

“It’s also good practice to wash your pet’s toys regularly to ensure they are clean and have no signs of wear and tear,” said Dr Paula.

Tabatha confirmed she had seen Beefcake eat a rubber duck three months ago during a private dog training session.

“Beefcake loves the squeaking sound of the rubber ducks. When we first moved into our house a friend hid hundreds around the house as a surprise,” confessed Tabatha.

Beefcake spent two days recovering at Lort Smith Animal Hospital, and is now back home with his family and his friend Pepper – a black pug. As for Tabatha, she is relieved Beefcake is safe and well.

“I’m just glad to have him home,” a relieved Tabatha said.

This tale is a timely reminder – especially with Christmas only a couple of weeks away – to ensure small toys are kept away from any furry family members.

Rest assured, Tabatha has removed every last duck from her home, ensuring this will not happen again.