Small Tennis Balls Pose Big Threat To Large Dogs

REDONDO BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A Torrance family nearly lost their dog recently in a frightening episode at their local dog park.

It wasn't another dog that posed the threat, but rather a small tennis ball.

The Shaw family was playing with family dog Charly in an area of the Redondo Beach Dog Park reserved for larger dogs when the tennis ball -- intended for smaller dogs -- crossed over from the other side of the park.

Charly pounced on the ball and swallowed it, setting in motion a stressful string of events.

The Shaws consulted their vet and decided to go forward with an emergency surgery to remove the ball, since it was too big for the dog to digest or vomit out.

"It's tragic," Peg Shaw said. "He could've lost his life if we didn't fork out the three thousand dollars."

Charly now bears the scars of the ordeal -- about 25 staples on his stomach.

Dr. Richard Sullivan, the veterinarian who treated Charly, said surgery was the best option.

"Over time it definitely could be [deadly] because the ball was too large to large to go into the small intestine and too large to vomit out," he said.

The Shaws said the man who threw the ball said it's not the first time this has happened.

Now, the family is hoping to raise awareness so that it doesn't happen to other dogs.

"Whether it's a small ball or a small toy, all the small toys in a large dog dog park are dangerous," Peg Shaw said.