Seven-year-old Mya had staff at Linnaeus-owned Southfields Veterinary Specialists scratching their heads as to what dog breed she was when she was referred to the industry-leading hospital.

Seeds of doubt were planted due to Mya’s altered appearance, with team members remarking that she looked like a Shar Pei, known for their deep wrinkles.

However, Mya’s swollen size was due to low thyroid levels together with an abscess caused by a stray grass awn which made her neck swell.

Mya’s concerned owner, Karine Foster from Essex, said: “Mya became very unwell, very quickly. She was lethargic and had stopped eating and drinking.

“Tests at Southfields confirmed Mya had thyroid problems and a grass awn was actually causing the abscess.

“The good news is Mya is completely back to her old self following surgery to remove the grass awn and medication to treat her low thyroid levels.

“Southfields were amazing from the very first visit and we had regular updates from them during and after her procedure. I would absolutely recommend them to other pet owners.”

Aldara Eiras-Diaz, internal medicine consultant, and Raquel del Solar, internal medicine resident, took charge of Mya’s care at Southfields.

Aldara said: “It’s difficult to remember such an extreme case of swelling than that of Mya.

“When she came to Southfields she had swelling of the face and extremities, as well as swelling in the lower part of the neck.

“Her underactive thyroid was causing a condition called mixedema, which causes swelling of the skin and underlying tissues.

“Mya was quickly started on thyroid hormone supplementation which worked incredibly well and the swelling in her face and legs reduced significantly.

“The grass awn was then removed when she was feeling better.

“It’s great to see that Mya is feeling like her old self again and is once again looking like a Staffordshire bull terrier.”

Southfields, which moved into its state-of-the-art £16 million Basildon hospital last summer, offers specialist services such as anaesthesia and analgesia, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, exotics, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, radiation and soft tissue surgery.

For more information about Southfields go to www.southfields.co.uk or search Southfields Veterinary Specialists on social media.