In the ruff: golf ball ordeal for good-natured Zac

The 18-month-old dog needed emergency surgery after an x-ray revealed he had the balls stuck in his stomach and gut.

Vets at the Heathcote Veterinary Centre in Whitnash removed the balls but Zac was in a critical condition before he started to recover a few days later.

Zac’s owner Graham Saysell thinks Zac swallowed the balls when he was taken for a walk near Whitnash Golf Club.

The canine, described by his owner as having a fantastic temperament and a good way with other dogs, fell ill shortly after and was taken to an emergency vet who referred him to the Heathcote centre.

Mr Saysell said: “It’s incredibly upsetting when your pet is ill because they can’t tell you what is wrong.

“When you look at the size of a golf ball it amazes me he managed to swallow one let alone five.“It would’ve been devastating if he had died because we lost another dog, Max, at this time last year.”

Mr Saysell, who lives on the corner of Home Farm Crescent and Golf Lane, was told it was ‘touch and go’ whether Zac would pull through but the resilient hound made a surprisingly fast recovery.

The dog owner said: “Now you wouldn’t believe there was every anything wrong with him

“Even the vets couldn’t believe it.

“They were brilliant, we have used the Heathcote vets for years and they do an excellent job down there.”

Emily Emerson, of Heathcote Veterinary Centre, said the operation had lasted several hours and had been difficult because two of the balls had got lodged in Zac’s gut, which was badly damaged.

She added: “It’s not common to find dog’s eating odd objects but we do see it from time to time.

“I have removed socks, children’s toys, needles and more from dogs in the past.”