An x-ray shows the 93 pebbles eaten by labrador Barney on Sheerness Beach

by Emma Grove

This incredible x-ray shows why a hungry hound had to have an operation - after eating 93 pebbles during a stroll along the beach.

Kim Woollard was visiting Sheerness Beach with her chocolate labrador Barney who, unbeknown to her, had swallowed the stones.

It was only that evening when the pooch became poorly and started vomiting that she realised something was wrong.

Worried Kim took her three-year-old pet (pictured right) to a veterinary surgery.

Vet Roger Bralow was shocked when an x-ray revealed the huge amount of pebbles that had become lodged in the dog's stomach.

Mr Bralow, who has been a vet for 15 years, says he has never seen anything like it.

"It was crazy how many stones were inside," he said. "It's not unusual for dogs to eat a stone as they explore with their mouths but it is unusual for them to keep going."

Mr Bralow believes Barney must have ingested all the stones in one session as it would not have been possible for them to sit inside his stomach for long.

"Barney had passed a stone so Kim was not surprised there were some in there but she was shocked at the number," he added. "He's fine now and doing really well."

If the stones had remained inside Barney, he would have continued vomiting, become very dehydrated and could have died, Mr Bralow said.

Dozens of stones found inside Barney

It's a problem which staff at Well Pets in Sheerness are all too familiar with, although they were shocked to hear Barney had eaten quite so many pebbles.

Practice co-ordinator Ann Eve said they are often doing operations to remove objects canines have picked up and estimates they find stones inside pets around four times a year.

"People have a misconception of throwing stones for dogs to fetch, but they pick them up and swallow them," she said.

"If they don't vomit them out they cause a blockage and have to be surgically removed.

"The most we've ever removed is four – 93 is definitely the most I've ever heard of."

Barney ate 93 pebbles on Sheerness Beach

Ms Eve said in the past they have found fishhooks, rubber balls and even a teddy bear’s head inside various dogs.

She reminded dog walkers to beware of their pets eating stones and fishhooks when they are on the beach.