A relieved dog owner has warned others to be aware after her Staffordshire bull terrier almost died when it swallowed a fish hook on Herne Bay seafront.

Amy Mason, 32, was walking 10-year-old Jazmine outside the King’s Hall early on Thursday morning.

She found the fish hook in her dog’s tongue when she got home but – by the time she had her rushed to the emergency vets – Jazmine had swallowed it whole.

Miss Mason, who has lived in the town for 10 years, said: “I know a lot of people who have dogs and walk down there and they need to be careful, especially if their dog is prone to picking things up.

“I do see fishermen down there fairly often but dogs picking up fish hooks hasn’t crossed my mind before – I am guessing the hook smelt of fish or something.

“We were very lucky she survived.”

Miss Mason, who was walking Jazmine at 5.30am on Thursday, says her pet is now recovering.

She said: “She is only a little dog and she is doing really well – the vets have said we could take her out for little walks now.

“Due to her age, they said they wouldn’t have been able to operate if she wasn’t as healthy as she is.

“The vets were amazing – they opened up early for us and really went above and beyond to get her back together again.”

“They said it was a lucky escape.

A spokesman from the Barton Veterinary Hospital in Canterbury, where Jazmine was rushed to, said dogs swallowing fish hooks is serious.

She said: “This is not common, but it does happen.

“It usually occurs when dogs accompany their owners to go fishing and they find the bait very tasty and attractive.

“It’s potentially quite serious and involves surgery.”