A Barnsley vets' practice has seen an alarming increase in the number of dogs being brought in after swallowing ice lollipop sticks.
In just one week Abbey Vets has performed operations on a cocker spaniel puppy and a greyhound cross breed to remove lollipop sticks from their intestines.
Marissa Mackenzie, owner of one of the dogs, Marley, said the 22-week-old cocker spaniel used his nose to lift the lid off the kitchen waste bin and helped himself to a wooden lollipop stick.
"I saw he had the stick in his mouth and shouted at him to drop it. Instead he raced off outside where he gulped it down in one swallow," said Marissa, 32, of Bank End Road, Worsbrough Dale.
"I phoned Abbey Vets straight away and they asked me to bring him in immediately. They operated on Marley to remove the stick and he was able to come home the following day."
Abbey Vets' Tony Duffy said that if it is left untreated, lollipop sticks can pierce a dog's intestines causing potentially fatal peritonitis.
