The Swayne and Partners surgery in Long Melford has become the first in its group to perform a complicated hip replacement operation which is usually only done at a referral centre.

Simon Culmstock, a partner at the surgery, said 18-month-old golden retriever Darcy was first brought into the surgery at the end last year because she was having trouble standing up.

After X-rays were taken the owner was given various alternatives to the operation but it was decided to go ahead with the procedure three months ago and it has has given the young animal a new lease of life.

"It's not done that commonly in a veterinary practice and is usually carried out at a referral centre, so it is a first for us," said Mr Culmstock.

"It's a technically difficult operation and time-consuming as well, so most vets will transfer it to a referral centre.

"I do a lot of orthopaedic work at the practice and, without blowing my own trumpet, had the expertise so we decided to go ahead and it has been very successful."

Darcy's owner, Maria Bowes, said the operation had made a huge improvement to her pet's life.

"She is so happy now," said Mrs Bowes.

"She has always been a happy dog but you can tell she is feeling good now and is full of beans. I can't thank Simon enough, he's been an absolute star. All the staff looked after her really well."

Meanwhile, the vet was involved in a rather more bizarre incident recently after a young dog managed to swallow a 10-inch wooden arrow complete with rubber suction pad at the end.

Luckily, five-month-old Summer-June escaped unharmed as the potentially lethal toy avoided all her vital organs and lodged in her stomach.

At first vets and owner Leanne Heffer were baffled as to what was wrong with the dog until an X-ray revealed the arrow.

Mr Culmstock said the puppy had been extremely lucky to have not been seriously injured by the object.

"With something like this, you normally find that the sharp, broken end perforates the stomach or gullet and causes massive peritonitis which usually means the puppy will not survive.

"No one knows how it got down the gullet, as it is quite large. Summer-June was very lucky. She has made a marvellous recovery."

Leanne Heffer, owner of Summer-June, said she was amazed how her pet had swallowed the toy.

"I was very very shocked when I found out why she wasn't well," said Leanne.

"How she had managed to carry on for a few days with an arrow inside her is beyond me.

"She is very lucky to be alive. You wouldn't know that there had been anything wrong with her as she is now running about as normal."