A VETERINARY surgery is urging anglers to be extra careful and ensure all fish hooks are removed after treating a number of dogs who have swallowed them.

Alderholt Veterinary Surgery has issued the reminder after the latest incident.

West Highland terrier Tuppence was brought in by her owner Mark Clark who was holidaying in the area with his parents Ron and Joan.

The family had been to a private lake when they saw some fishing line from her mouth which she was struggling to claw out.

She was taken to the vets where the team were able to remove the lodged hook.

“It is just important to highlight the cases and make dog owners aware and hopefully anglers,” said veterinary surgeon Vaughn Stoman.

“We all enjoy nature in our personal ways, just be conscious that leaving hooks is really irresponsible and injuries cost people a lot of money and anxiety. The risk to the animals is quite high and the pain and discomfort, it is just cruel — think about the consequences. What if it was their own children.”

He says there have been three cases over the past year of dogs swallowing fish hooks, which can result in the animals having to have expensive surgery costing thousands of pounds.

However, he says it can be potentially fatal. In one case, the dog had to be put down due to its age.

Dog owners are advised, if their pet swallows a fish hook to take them to a vet immediately.

“It is potentially life and death," said Mr Stoman.

Twelve-year-old dog Tuppence, who is also known by her pedigree name Calamity Jane, is recovering well from her ordeal.

"It is a big relief it's out and she is back to her normal self," said owner Mark.

He added: "At the end of fishing it takes five minutes just to go back around and check everything."

The family thanked the team at Alderholt Veterinary Surgery for all they good work they did to help Tuppence.