> At a Glance
> – A 5-month-old English bull terrier named Charlie swallowed a 1.5-inch razor blade from household trash
> – Emergency surgery at Teme Veterinary Practice removed the blade from his stomach
> – Charlie recovered quickly and went home the same day
> – Why it matters: Pet owners are reminded that common household trash can be deadly for curious pets
Charlie the bull terrier started 2026 on an operating table after a New Year’s Eve trash raid left him with a razor blade in his stomach.
Trash Raid Gone Wrong
Charlie’s owner, Richard Johnson, told News Of Los Angeles the pup slipped past an open stair gate and dove into an upstairs bin. He was after a discarded sandwich but also wolfed down a disposable razor that still had its 39 mm blade.
> “We have a stair gate to stop him going upstairs, but it had been left open, and he was straight up and in the bin.”
Diagnosis and Surgery
Johnson alerted Teme Vets in Ludlow, Shropshire. Because vomiting risked slicing Charlie’s insides, vets waited overnight and then X-rayed him. The image confirmed the blade was sitting in his stomach.
Surgery became “the only option” to save his life. Vets removed both the blade and its plastic cover.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Dec 31 | Charlie eats the razor |
| Jan 1 | X-ray confirms location; surgery performed |
| Jan 2 | Clinic posts update; Charlie seen for check-up |
Smooth Recovery
Charlie woke quickly and headed home the same day. Nursing staff checked him again two days later.
> “We can report he is back to his cheeky self and full of beans,” the practice posted on Facebook.
Johnson said the family’s relief grew when they learned the blade still had its cover.
> “It could have been so much worse if I hadn’t.”
Key Takeaways
- Even small household items like razor blades can be fatal to pets
- Inducing vomiting is dangerous when sharp objects are involved
- Charlie’s case shows why vets prefer surgical removal for sharp foreign bodies
- Quick owner action and clinic caution saved the pup’s life
Charlie’s New Year’s resolution, according to his vet team: stop eating things he shouldn’t.
