RSPCA vets in Nantwich dealt with one of their most “incredible cases” when a young jackdaw pecked off more than it could chew.
The bird had swallowed a pair of tweezers and was rushed to RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre on London Road.
X-rays (pictured) showed the metal instrument stretched the full length of his body.
Vets were concerned the internal damage to the young bird would be too great.
But following an intricate hour-long procedure, the jackdaw from Derbyshire is now on the mend.
Stapeley Grange wildlife vet Dr Bev Panto said: “When I saw the X-rays and the size of the tweezers he had swallowed, I thought there was absolutely no chance this poor jackdaw could survive.
“The tweezers stretched the whole length of his digestive system – right from his crop to his intestines and the sharp ends were piercing through his skin.
“But after a challenging and intricate surgery to remove the tweezers via his stomach, and a nail-biting hour watching him recover, he proved he was quite the little fighter.
“He seems right as rain and has been eating well ever since.
“He obviously has quite the tweezer fetish though so we have to be extra careful when feeding him!
“He is hands down the most incredible case and recovery I have seen during my six years as a wildlife vet.
“How such a small bird can survive such a traumatic incident, and then undergo major surgery and appear fighting fit the next day, is quite incredible.
“While he still has a long way to go, and lots of healing to do, he has amazed us all so far, and we are hopeful we will be able to see him through to release.
“I have never seen a case where a bird has swallowed a pair of tweezers before.
“But we think it is possible this bird was being hand fed and then tried to eat more than just the food.”
The RSPCA is a charity relies on public donations to exist. Find out more here.
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