Dog's 'cancer' turns out to be four teddy bears Published duration 19 April 2018

image copyright Paragon Veterinary Referrals image caption Maisy had an operation after a CT scan showed a full stomach

A sick St Bernard dog whose owners feared she could have cancer was found to have eaten four teddy bears instead.

Eight-year-old Maisy had a CT scan which showed an unusually full stomach and a mass on her spleen, which led her vet to diagnose possible cancer.

During an operation to remove the spleen, Wakefield-based vet Nick Blackburn found the soft toys in her stomach.

Mr Blackburn said "this was not something we were expecting to find".

"We all know certain dogs enjoy chewing things they shouldn't but managing to devour four full teddy bears is quite a feat," said Mr Blackburn.

Mr Blackburn, who works at Paragon Veterinary Referrals, said Maisy had since made a full recovery from her operation and a histology report showed no sign of cancer.

image copyright Paragon Veterinary Referrals image caption A CT scan revealed a mass on the dog's spleen

The dog's owner Jane Dickinson, from Roberttown, near Dewsbury, said the recovered teddies were stolen by Maisy from the family's Chihuahuas.

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"She will steal the Chihuahuas' toys and play with them but I've never seen her trying to chew them," said Ms Dickson

"Her eating habits had been completely normal."

image copyright Paragon Veterinary Referrals image caption Maisy's owner Jane Dickinson said the St Bernard had stolen the toys from the family's other dogs

Ms Dickinson added: "When Maisy went in I did think 'is she coming out?' But she is loving life now."

"It's like she's got her youth back."