21/08/2026
❄️ Olaf went looking for Elsa… and found her in the wrong place!
Meet Olaf, a French Bulldog who recently came to see us after it was suspected he had eaten something he shouldn't have.
An abdominal ultrasound revealed a foreign object sitting inside his stomach. We immediately moved to endoscopic retrieval.
An endoscope is a flexible camera that can be passed through the mouth, down the oesophagus and into the stomach while the patient is under anaesthesia. It allows us to see directly inside the stomach and use specialised instruments to grasp and retrieve suitable foreign objects.
And what did we find in Olaf's stomach?
Elsa! ❄️👑
Yes, Olaf had swallowed an Elsa Ooshie - apparently these two Frozen characters really couldn't Let It Go!
Fortunately, Elsa was still within Olaf's stomach and we were able to grasp and successfully remove her using the endoscope.
Why is endoscopy so useful?
When a foreign object is still within the stomach and is suitable for retrieval, endoscopy can sometimes avoid the need for abdominal surgery.
For Olaf, this meant:
✅ No abdominal incision
✅ No surgical opening of the stomach or intestines
✅ A minimally invasive procedure
✅ Faster recovery
✅ Home without needing gastrointestinal surgery
Not every foreign body can be removed endoscopically. Objects that have already moved into the intestines, are causing an obstruction, or cannot be safely grasped may still require surgery.
But when the circumstances are right, endoscopy provides a fantastic minimally invasive option for retrieving gastric foreign bodies and potentially avoiding major abdominal surgery.
Olaf recovered beautifully and headed home - thankfully with Elsa now safely on the outside!
❄️ Some things are definitely better left Frozen… and uneaten! ⛄
Endoscopy is just one of the services we provide at Maroochydore Rd Vet Surgery.
