A NINE-YEAR-old Springer Spaniel has been awarded a prize for her bravery — after vets had to remove a sports sock from her stomach.

Bootle was given the Braveheart award from Drake Vets in Tavistock for the pet who has survived the most over the last six months.

Over Easter Bootle was seen by vet Liz Miller as she had been vomiting for two days and not eating.

The following day, after treatment, she was re-examined but unfortunately she was no better. She was showing signs of dehydration and an uncomfortable tummy.

Bootle was placed on a drip and underwent a general anaesthetic to have X-rays taken. These revealed a lot of gas in her guts and a suspicious looking thickened area. She was transferred to theatre where she had an emergency operation.

To the vet and nurses' horror they found Bootle's guts were bunched up tightly together and were a very unhealthy colour. They found the gut had also telescoped on itself (intersusseption) caused by a foreign body — a long sports sock which ran through the complete length of Bootle's gut.

The owners were called and there was a high chance that Bootle would not make it through the anaesthetic and surgery. Even if she did there was a high risk of peritonitis and she would be unlikely to survive.

Surgery continued to correct the intersusseption and remove the sock from four different incision sites. Throughout that evening it was touch and go but to everyone's amazement Bootle was up on her feet next morning ready to go outside. She even managed to wag her tail.

After several days of intensive care from the vets and nurses, support from her family and bravery and determination from Bootle herself, she gradually started eating, gaining weight and her bouncy, happy character began to resurface.

The practice said everyone was thrilled that Bootle went on to make a full recovery even with the odds so highly stacked against her.

Owner Guy Balmer said he was extremely grateful to Drake Vets:

'Bootle has always been a fit dog and this was a major factor in her surviving the operation,' he said.

She received a certificate, medal and an engraved plate.