Constipated Goldfish Saved By Devoted Owner With $500 Emergency Operation 


Just when you thought you’d heard (read) it all, a new report has emerged that a highly-devoted pet owner just spent almost $500 saving the life of his beloved goldfish after it became constipated.

The devoted goldfish owner, who has remained anonymous, is from North Walsham in Norfolk, UK. Having noticed that his pet fish was having a hard time pooping, he took it to the Toll Barn Veterinary Centre for an emergency procedure to save its life.

When the man was told by the vet that the surgery required was complex and would cost almost $500, the pet owner had a dilemma on his hands.

But, having thought long and hard (for about 10 minutes), the devoted goldfish owner decided to give the go-ahead for the operation and came up with the cash.

Vet Faye Bethell was then tasked with carefully administering anesthetic, before using tiny instruments to remove a lump close to the fish’s backside. As reported, a second lump was removed from his dorsal fin, before the fish was returned to water and handed back to his owner.

According to Vet Bethell, the goldfish made a full recovery following the 50-minute operation, and said it would have died if it was left untreated.

“I have never done a procedure like that on a goldfish, although I have done it before on more valuable fish like a carp. The actual surgery is quite straightforward but administering the anaesthetic is quite complicated. The issue was the fish couldn’t poo and it would have eventually become toxic and it would have died. There was nothing special about the fish. He just liked it a lot. People love their pets – but that was an expensive little goldfish.”

The rare and intricate procedure involved introducing a carefully-measured anesthetizing agent into the fish’s water, before removing it on to a waterproof drape. Anesthetic water was then put into its mouth via a tube.

The vet then used a miniature heart-rate monitor to check that the fish was properly “under,” before using a mini scalpel to remove the lumps.

The talented Faye Bethell then sewed each incision with three stitches. She then used a special glue to cover and waterproof the fish’s scales, before it was gradually woken up.

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