A dog had to undergo a life-saving operation after an entire corn on the cob got stuck in its stomach.

Sam, a Rhodesian ridgeback crossbreed, had around 4ft of his small intestine removed after PDSA vets discovered the corn husk was causing it to rot away.

Owner Lorraine Graham, from Tollcross in Glasgow, noticed Sam was being sick regularly but had no idea of the extent of the problem.

PDSA senior vet Susie Hermit said: "We found that the corn on the cob husk was causing a major blockage in Sam's small intestine, restricting the blood supply.

"Unfortunately, some of the damage was irreversible and we had to remove around half of his intestine, which had begun to die off and rot. Sam was very lucky to survive."

Ms Graham, 43, believes Sam swallowed the cob while out of the house.

"We first noticed something was wrong when Sam started being sick, and it gradually got worse until he was being sick every 20 minutes," she said.

"I couldn't believe it when PDSA X-rayed him and told us what was causing the blockage. We hadn't been eating corn on the cob so he must have picked it up while outside.

"He was so weak and lethargic that I knew he was facing the fight of his life. Thankfully he pulled through and I can't thank PDSA enough for saving him."

The pet charity said it dealt with 28 similar cases over the last year and is urging people planning barbecues over the bank holiday weekend to make sure they discard food properly.

Ms Hermit said: "Pets like to use their mouth to investigate objects as well as to eat. Puppies and younger pets will often swallow an item by mistake, even though they had only meant to investigate it.

"Something like corn on the cob might seem harmless enough but if an object moves along the digestive system, as it did with Sam, it can cause a tear or life-threatening blockage."