Vets save Toby the labrador's sight after he got a three-inch stick embedded in his eye socket during a game of fetch

Veterinary surgeons have saved a labrador's sight after he got a three-inch stick embedded in his eye socket during a game of fetch.

The seven-year-old pooch, named Toby, suffered a freak injury while playing at his home in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

He emerged from a hedge howling in pain and was rushed to the vets who discovered the sharp twig lodged inside his right eye socket.

His owners feared their pet would lose his eye but veterinary surgeons were able to remove the stick and incredibly saved Toby's eye following a three-hour operation. 

Toby's owner Leila Rawes Barton, 35, described how the innocent game of fetch in the family's garden took a turn for the worse. 

She said: 'We were playing ball in the garden when it bounced into a bush with Toby enthusiastically chasing to fetch it.

'Immediately, we could see he was hurt as he was turning in circles, whimpering and looking distressed.

'Moments later, we could see what the problem was and it was clear this was an emergency.

'There was a stick protruding from his right eye and his eye was not visible at all.

'It was like a scene from a horror movie and is a sight we, as a family, will never forget.'

The mother swiftly called the vets and told them how her pet had a stick lodged in his eye socket. 

She added: 'I was in an absolute state. We honestly thought Toby was going to lose his eye and I was preparing for the worst.

'My six-year-old son Jack dashed to get his father while my youngest Theo, who's only three, went to get my mobile phone.

'I stayed with Toby comforting him and then called Boundary Vets.

'I am not sure they quite believed my slightly unusual and panicked description of 'he has a stick sticking out of his eye!'

'I think they were certainly expecting something more like a little bit of twig rather than an actual stick protruding out.

'The vets immediately realised my phone description was quite accurate and whisked Toby away to administer pain relief and assess the damage.'

Toby was given pain relief at Boundary Vets in Abingdon before being transferred to Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in Solihull, West Midlands.

Leila added: 'The administration and veterinary team also did a great job treating me for shock and reassuring me.

'They kept me up to speed on how he was doing, what they thought would be the best course of action and what our options were.

'As we were insured we had the option of seeking specialist care and the team was quick to arrange a referral to Willows.' 

Willows' Erika Villedieu, European specialist in small animal surgery, and ophthalmology resident Marisa Perez Orrico were faced with the challenge of removing the stick and Marisa admitted it was a daunting prospect.

She said: 'The nature of Toby's eye injury was quite shocking, even for a vet, and we elected to stabilise him ahead of performing surgery to remove the stick the following day.

'He was treated to make him comfortable overnight. We anticipated it would be a challenging procedure to remove the stick from Toby's eye but in the morning we discovered it would not be necessary.

'Fortunately, most of the stick had fallen out on its own overnight.

'Removing the remaining splinters afterwards was a much simpler procedure for myself and Erika, and Toby responded well.'

Toby has since made a full recovery back at home.

Leila added: 'Toby is fully back to his usual bouncy, energetic ball crazy self.

'He has not learned anything from his near miss but we certainly have and balls are no longer allowed in the garden.

'Instead, we head to wide open spaces with his ball where he can safely play.'