Alpha is a ‘stone’ lighter after minimally invasive surgery at London Vet Specialists to remove a whole mango stone from his stomach.
Puppy Alpha's A 'stone' Lighter After Fruit Removed From Stomach
6 months ago 
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A leading veterinary referral centre in London has removed a mango stone from a dog which could have been life-threatening if left inside him.
Nine-month-old Alpha, a Siberian Husky, swallowed the whole mango stone from his owner’s hands before it was successfully removed using minimally invasive surgery at Linnaeus-owned London Vet Specialists (LVS) in Belsize Park.
Alpha was initially rushed as an emergency to LVS’s sister practice Village Vet Hampstead, where x-rays revealed the foreign object embedded in his stomach.
However, due to the size and shape of the mango stone, the team were unable to retrieve it using normal techniques, which include inducing vomiting and performing an endoscopy, in which a long thin tube with a small camera inside, called an endoscope, is passed into the body through the mouth.
Alpha was then referred to LVS, where a second endoscopy proved unsuccessful, meaning surgery was the only option to remove the stone.
The lifesaving operation was performed by LVS surgical specialist Dr Janet McClaran and surgical intern Matija Mesko.
Janet McClaran said: “If the stone had stayed inside Alpha for much longer it could have caused a life-threatening hole in the stomach.
“Alpha’s surgery was performed via a camera and keyhole approach. The whole mango stone was embedded into the stomach wall, which explains why the two endoscopic procedures were so tricky.
“The mango stone contained an enzyme called bromelain which was breaking down the protein of Alpha’s stomach wall.
“The good news is the minimally invasive surgery went well and Alpha was allowed home the next day. He has made a full recovery back to his normal bouncy self and is happily one ‘stone’ lighter.”
Matija said: “Objects which are too large to pass through the intestinal tract should be removed, as they could cause a blockage or irritation of the stomach wall, not to mention they give quite a tummy ache.”
Alpha’s owner, Emad Alkhalefeh from North Finchley, said: “We were in shock as it all happened very quickly, and it was very stressful and scary to learn that Alpha needed an operation.
“It was very difficult times for all of us, especially Alpha as he couldn’t sleep for few days as he was scared to lay down in his tummy.
“LVS kept us informed, were attentive whenever we called with an enquiry and helped throughout the process, and with the follow up to ensure that the procedure went smoothly.
“Alpha is once again very happy and very active. He is loved by everyone around him.”
LVS, which is moving to a new state-of-the-art £8 million hospital in Hammersmith next year, has the capability to perform minimally invasive surgery, so rather than a large abdominal incision, Alpha could have his surgery performed via a camera and keyhole approach.
LVS is a multidisciplinary veterinary referral facility which offers expert care in anaesthesia and analgesia, cardiology, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, internal medicine, ophthalmology and soft tissue surgery.
For more information about London Vet Specialists and the services it offers, visit https://londonvetspecialists.vet/.
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