Dog owners have been warned to stop throwing sticks for their dogs to fetch as it can lead to "horrific injuries" for the animal.

The most common injury, according to a top vet, occurs when a dog tries to pick up a stick at speed which can force it down their gullet or under their tongue.

Throwing rubber sticks from pet shops, balls or Frisbees would be a safer alternative, the president of the British Veterinary Association in Scotland Grace Webster told the Times.

The warning comes after a collie called Maya got a 10cm stick stuck in her throat, puncturing her tongue and displacing her larynx. The veterinary centre in Glasgow which treated Maya has reported a rise in the number of dogs with injuries from sticks.

Former president of the British Veterinary Association Robin Hargreaves has previously campaigned for owners to be advised against throwing sticks.