Loui got into trouble when he managed to get his paws on a pair of knee-length socks from the Ann Summers collection.

The peckish pet was rushed to Newcastle PDSA PetAid hospital, The Ann Coleman Centre, by worried owner, Nicola Baldwin when he started to lose weight and vomit.

An x-ray showed there was a blockage in his abdomen, which PDSA vets suspected was a foreign body. Once they learned that Loui has a history of chewing and eating socks, they realised an operation was inevitable.

Nicola said: "Loui is very hyper and lively and very much into his food, so when he started to lose weight, I knew straight away something was wrong. He was constantly vomiting, suffering from diarrhoea and very emaciated in appearance."

With Loui seriously ill and also suffering from dehydration, PDSA vets operated the same day to remove the blockage. What they discovered was a 'big' surprise to staff and to Nicola as the dog had managed to gnaw his way through one-and-a-half pairs of knee-length, striped socks.

PDSA Veterinary Surgeon Lizzie Hodgson said: "I wasn't surprised when I found a sock in Loui's intestines, given his taste for them, but I was surprised at how long it was, given that it the same length as Loui himself!

"There was no way for it to pass through naturally so we had to operate immediately to remove it."

Nicola continued: "I couldn't believe it when the surgeon showed me what Loui had been chewing, my best pair of socks which just happened to be part of an Ann Summers set.

"We think he must have got them from the wash basket or from a shelf, so now I make sure I don't leave anything lying around. I check and triple-check that there is nothing he can get a hold of."

Nicola said: "I am so grateful to all the staff at PDSA for the treatment they gave Loui. They were so quick and absolutely spot on. He's looking a lot healthier now and is back to being his usual, boisterous self."

>> Visit www.pdsa.org.uk. for more about the PDSA

Newcastle PDSA PetAid hospital provides free veterinary treatment for the pets of owners who are unable to afford veterinary fees. For further information about PDSA PetAid services call 0800 731 2502 or contact Newcastle PDSA PetAid hospital direct on 0191 214 6800.