Vet ER saves curious cat who swallowed fish hook
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Curiosity nearly killed the cat when Teleigha, a five-year-old puss from Blackpool, gobbled up a fishhook, requiring lifesaving emergency surgery at vet charity PDSA.
Teleigha’s owner, Linzi Maddocks (46), said: “My son was packing his fishing gear while Teleigha was on the sofa, she seemed uninterested. But suddenly she jumped down, grabbed the hook in her mouth and swallowed it. It didn’t even have any bait on it, but I think the shiny silver attracted her.”
The family tried to help but quickly realised the hook was nowhere to be seen. So Linzi called the PDSA Pet Hospital on Hawes Side Lane in Blackpool and was advised to bring Teleigha straight in.
PDSA Senior Vet, Jen Jackson, said: “Teleigha seemed fine when she arrived, but an x-ray showed the fish hook in her stomach. Although tiny, if left it could easily have pierced her intestines or damaged a major blood vessel, which could have been fatal. It’s just as well the family saw what happened and brought her in.”
 Vets and nurses at PDSA performed an emergency operation to remove the fishhook. Teleigha stayed overnight and was able to go home the next day.
Linzi continued: “Teleigha was very glad to return home and she made a really quick recovery. PDSA have been brilliant. They’ve helped me over the last eight years after I was made redundant following health issues. They’re amazing!
Linzi, who already hides her jewellery from Teleigha’s curious paws, is now careful to keep her son’s fishing equipment well out of reach too. “Teleigha is a total diva and is so mischievous we have to be very careful. But she’s so adorable, she’s definitely worth the fuss!”
PDSA is the UK’s leading veterinary charity, treating more than 470,000 pets annually across its 51 Pet Hospitals. Blackpool PDSA can see as many as 150 pets a day and provides more than 70,000 treatments to pets in need every year.
The charity strives to improve all pets’ lives through education, preventive care and emergency treatment. To support PDSA’s vital work text PAWS to 70111 to donate £3 or visit www.pdsa.org.uk.
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