After sharp fishing hook lodges in dog's throat, veterinary surgeons snap into action

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An apparently hungry dog in the U.K. recently swallowed an entire fishing line — including the hook. And the X-ray made it abundantly clear.

The staff at Milton Keynes Veterinary Group — an independent, family-run veterinary practice with five different locations — said that a dog named Betsy was admitted to their practice after a fishing hook became lodged in her throat, as reported by SWNS, the British news service recently.

Veterinary surgeon Matthew Lloyd was able to "expertly remove the line and sharp hook" without causing any additional damage to the animal, the outlet noted.

The incident required specialist equipment, according to SWNS.

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An x-ray image of the dog's neck indicated the hook was still stuck in her esophagus, according to SWNS reporting.

The animal's owners realized what had occurred only after they noticed fishing wire protruding from their dog's mouth.

This dog, Betsy, recently swallowed a fishing line, hook included — and needed immediate surgical veterinary care. "Betsy’s was an interesting case," said the veterinary surgeon who worked on the pet. (SWNS)

Lloyd said, "Betsy’s was an interesting case."

He added, "To remove such a sharp hook without causing any additional damage was a real challenge — and we are so pleased to have such a lovely outcome for Betsy and her owners," as SWNS noted.

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The staff at Milton Keynes Veterinary Group describe themselves as "a highly professional, qualified and skilled team of vet surgeons and nurses supported daily" by receptionists and an "experienced management team," as the group explains on its website.

"Dogs are great companions while fishing, but they are often attracted by shiny lures and bait."

The vets at the practice "come from a variety of backgrounds and have a wealth of knowledge and experience across all types of surgery, some with special interests in ophthalmology, feline medicine, orthopedics and more," the group notes.

This X-ray and the red circle in the center reveal where the hook was stuck in the dog's esophagus. (SWNS)

"Many of our vets have undertaken post-graduate study and achieved further specialist qualifications, awarded by the veterinary governing body the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), and continue to develop skills and knowledge with further education courses throughout their career."

A reader — after first seeing the story — shared with Fox News Digital, "The same happened to my dog, only the hook was in the stomach. Folks, popular beaches are littered with broken fishing lines that still have bait attached to the hook," the person added.

Said Pet Helpful, "Almost all dogs should have [a fishing] hook removed by endoscopy or surgery. There are a few cases where this might not happen," the website noted.

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Also, "dogs are great companions while fishing, but they are often attracted by shiny lures and bait," said Pet MD in a writeup on the topic of fishing lines and dogs. 

A dog named Betsy was admitted to a veterinary practice after a fishing hook became lodged in her throat. The family only realized the problem when they saw fishing wire hanging out of their dog's mouth, SWNS noted. (SWNS)

"If a fishhook should become embedded in the dog's paw, mouth, esophagus or stomach, it requires special care (including sedation, minor surgery, endoscopy and pain medications) to remove it."

The publication added, "We typically don’t recommend attempting to remove this by yourself, as you can cause severe damage (to both you and your dog)!"

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It also noted that "while most dogs are good swimmers, not all are."

Owners should know that "some dogs can drown."

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So — "always supervise your pet while they are swimming outdoors."

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