VETS had to use an industrial hacksaw after a dog got a bone stuck in its mouth.

Bella the springer spaniel’s jaw was prised open by the tasty treat and staff at Inglis Veterinary Hospital are urging dog owners not to feed their pets cooked bones.

Vet Rachel Motion explained, “Bella had been so enthusiastically enjoying her bone that her bottom jaw caught in the middle of it. The bone was absolutely brick hard and neither Bella nor her owner could move it.

“Contrary to popular belief, a bone can actually be quite soft, especially if it is young. But when it’s cooked it becomes very hard, like glass. It can crack a dog’s teeth and splinters can get in its stomach. What happened to Bella was very unusual but it underlines the dangers of feeding dogs cooked bones.” Owner Stacey Fleetham took Bella to Inglis’ when the bone was well and truly stuck in the spaniel’s mouth.

Rachel said, “Bella had to be anaesthetised first and I then tried to get the bone free using a dental drill. When that wouldn’t work I spent more than half an hour very carefully cutting through the bone using an industrial hacksaw to then get it out.” She added, “It was one of my more unusual jobs but it’s great that things worked out for Bella. She was certainly relieved not to be wearing her bone anymore.”