A HUNGRY dog got a real mouthful after eating a cornon-the-cob core.

Rosa - a one-year-old crossbreed - needed surgery to save her life after guzzling the vegetable while out walking.

Owner Jane Irving became worried after Rosa had been off food for a few days.

Mrs Irving, from Heaton, Newcastle, knew that her normally greedy dog adored her food far too much to miss a meal, so took her to the vet.

PDSA vet Lizzie Hodgeson said Rosa had a lucky escape.

She said: ''I suspected she had swallowed something she shouldn't, but until we operated, there was no way of telling what it was or if it there was any permanent damage."

During emergency surgery, the half-chewed corn-on-thecob was removed from Rosa's intestines.

Ms Hodgeson said: "If the core had not been removed, it would have caused a serious and life-threatening infection."

It is not the first time Rosa has scoffed something she should not have.

Mrs Irving said: "Rosa tried to eat some underwear that she found when out walking, and her playful nature gets her into a lot of trouble."