Endoscopic and surgical retrieval of fishhooks from the stomach and esophagus in dogs and cats: 75 cases (1977-1993)

Medical records of 3 cats and 72 dogs that had a fishhook endoscopically or surgically retrieved from the stomach or esophagus were reviewed. Endoscopic retrieval was successful in 41 of 62 (66%) animals, and retrieval time and hospitalization time for endoscopic retrieval were significantly shorter than times for surgical retrieval. Rate of failure of endoscopic retrieval was higher for animals with treble-barb, rather than single-barb, fishhooks. Whether a fishhook could be successfully retrieved endoscopically was independent of body weight, amount of time the fishhook had been present, location of the hook, and orientation within the esophagus.