Dog eats 23 live rounds of ammunition

MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. -- Some dogs will eat just about anything - from 111 pennies to four tickets to the Masters. But one Arkansas veterinarian has kept a dog from going out with a bang after the animal ate 23 live rifle rounds.

The Baxter Bulletin reports that 4-year-old Belgian Malinois, Benno, had surgery last week to remove the .308 caliber ammunition from his stomach.

Owner Larry Brassfield says Benno has eaten socks, magnets and marbles but he didn't expect the animal would bother a bag of bullets by his bed. Brassfield and his wife realized Benno needed medical attention after the pet vomited up four rounds.

The vet, Sarah Sexton, removed 17 rounds from Benno's stomach but left two in his esophagus, which the dog was allowed to discharge on his own.

"We said in school there's what's in the books and there's what you see in the real world," Sexton told the Bulletin. "This is something they certainly did not cover in school. I've had dogs eat things before, mostly stuffed toys. Once I had one swallow a hearing aid but I think this takes the cake."

Brassfield says he won't leave ammo lying around anymore but isn't optimistic that Benno will stick to dog food.