Community Corner

3 Pennies to Blame for Chihuahua's Illness

Eating three pennies caused Sasha, a six-month-old male Chihuahua, to get sick, needing emergency care at a Clearwater vet.

Three pennies are to blame for an ill Chihuahua taken to a Clearwater veterinarian for emergency care over the weekend.

Sasha, a six-month-old male Chihuahua, was taken into BluePearl Veterinary Partners for signs of anemia Saturday, James Judge, spokesman for the clinic said in a release.

Veterinarians took X-rays and noticed the foreign objects, three pennies. After an endoscopy procedure, the pennies were removed one by one.

Stomach acid was eating away at the pennies, which caused the dog to develop toxicosis, a form of poisoning because of the zinc inside the pennies, Judge said. 

This is the first critical care emergency case since the hospital started operating 24 hours a day in July, Judge said.

Since his treatment, Sasha's appetite is back and he is doing well.


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