A regular river stroll turned into an emergency rush for a Labrador named Millie who swallowed a fish hook from a fisherman's bag.

The six-year-old family pet, thinking she might find a tasty treat, instead ended up with a life-threatening object lodged in her stomach.

X-rays conducted by local veterinary professionals confirmed the presence of the dangerous fishing gear, leading to Millie being quickly transferred to the Winchester-based Linnaeus-owned Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists for immediate attention.

Discussing the harrowing incident, Millie's owner, Claire Rowe from Goring, Berkshire, conveyed the alarming sequence of events.

Claire said: "We were walking along the river when Millie suddenly stuck her head into a Tesco carrier bag belonging to a fisherman.

"As soon as I saw what she was doing I called her, she came to me and it was at that point I examined her and noticed a tiny piece of metal in the corner of her mouth, while Millie immediately started brushing her nose with her paw.

"I had the strong impression it was fish hook but Millie wriggled free.

"When I did manage to get a second look, I couldn’t see anything so I was worried she’d swallowed it."

Claire quickly sought advice from her daughter, Charlotte, who is a vet working in Sydney, Australia, but was back home on a visit.

Charlotte advised Claire to get Millie x-rayed as soon as possible.

Following the x-ray, Millie was referred to the award-winning animal hospital, Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, where a team of experts safely removed the fish hook using an endoscope.

Removing the hook non-surgically, the team ensured a swift recovery for Millie.

Expressing her gratitude, Claire said: "Thankfully, they managed to safely remove it with the endoscope and Millie recovered very quickly from the procedure.

"When I went to collect her the following day and she was bouncing around and full of energy, she couldn’t wait to get out to have a good run.

"We’d definitely recommend Anderson Moores’ team for their care and attention both for Millie and for us."

Vicky Neale, Anderson Moores' resident in internal medicine, who was part of the care team attending to Millie, echoed Claire's sentiments.

Vicky said: "Radiographs (X-rays) revealed the fish hook and attached weight were in Millie's stomach.

"This was a very positive outcome for Millie who had fortunately escaped any internal damage despite swallowing something as sharp and dangerous as a fish hook.

"She also showed no ill-effects from the non-invasive treatment and removal and was allowed home soon afterwards none the worse for her escapade!"

Anderson Moores offers a wide array of pet healthcare services, including expert care in cardiology, neurology, oncology, orthopaedics, and soft tissue surgery, proving to be a lifesaver for pets like Millie.