Kobe initially presented with a very large, firm (10cm) swelling that had appeared over his left ribcage. Otherwise, he was completely himself- eating and drinking normally, toileting normally, and generally a bright and happy boy.

Interestingly, the swelling itself didn't seem to be bothering him. However, Dr Preethi wanted to investigate further to rule out scary things like osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and recommended some X-rays. Unfortunately, the X-rays didn't reveal anything obvious, just a very large soft tissue swelling.

The following day Kobe had become a little restless at home, and the swelling appeared to be getting larger by the day. So, he came in for an abdominal ultrasound.

The ultrasound was reassuringly normal for the most part. His abdominal organs all looked healthy, but our sonographer noticed one unusual detail: part of the stomach wall appeared different from the rest. Rather than having the usual slightly corrugated appearance and normal movement seen during scanning, one section looked unusually straight!

We knew that Kobe had been a naughty boy a whole month earlier - getting into some human food at a BBQ…

And that's when the missing kebab stick came into the investigation!

Dr Chloe became concerned that Kobe's long-lost BBQ skewer might actually be lodged along the wall of his stomach- and migrating through his body, making itself known AN ENTIRE MONTH(!) after ingestion.

Isn’t that mind-blowing? Yes, we thought so too!

His owner didn't waste any time and took him straight to a specialist clinic, Brisbane Veterinary Specialist Centre (BVSC), where Kobe underwent a CT scan. CT scans provide much more detailed cross-sectional images of the body, helping both with diagnoses and surgical planning. Lo and behold… there it was! The kebab stick was still completely intact.

Kobe was swiftly taken to surgery, where the offending skewer was successfully removed. Or should we say, Kobe was successfully de-skewered?

We're very happy to report that Kobe has made a full recovery, with no permanent harm done. He is, however, officially banned from BBQs for life!!!

A serious lesson behind a rather unusual case

While Kobe's case was certainly a memorable one, we regularly see complications caused by pets eating things they shouldn't.

Please keep potential choking hazards and food-related temptations well out of reach of your pets. This is especially important around BBQs, where dogs may have access to meat skewers, bones, food scraps etc.

It's also important to be careful when disposing of BBQ fat and grease. Never pour it onto dirt or sand in an area your pet can access. Once the grease solidifies and mixes with soil or sand, some dogs will happily eat the mixture-and we've seen cases where this has resulted in serious constipation and intestinal obstructions.

Likewise, keep bin lids securely closed and try to avoid making a habit of feeding your pet from the dinner table. If your dog is displaying particularly persistent or unusual hunger-driven behaviours, speak with your veterinarian. There may be an underlying medical reason, or dietary adjustments- such as increasing appropriate fiber intake which may help them feel fuller for longer.

And finally

What is the craziest thing your pet has ever eaten? Do share it with us!