A Scots dog could lose its life after tearing its leg open while chasing a squirrel on a walk.
One-year-old Irish Wolfhound Rags will need to be put to sleep if expensive skin graft treatment to save her leg doesn't work as she is too large a breed to live with only three legs.
Devastated owner Heather Wilson, 55, has already racked up a £3,000 medical bill for treatment so far, as her poorly pet needed stitches, antibiotics, painkillers and bandages.
Staff at County Vets in Ayr hoped that Rags' leg would heal on its own, but the wound remains eight-weeks after the horror accident and their last resort is now a skin graft.
The procedure at Now Vets in Glasgow could cost up to £10,000 and if it doesn't work Rags will need to be put down.
Heartbroken neighbour and friend Lisa Murray, 34, was walking Rags at the time of the accident.
She told the Record: "Heather lives next door to me and our other friend lives next door as well.
"There is three of us and we have five dogs between us so we take turns walking them. I had them out and two of the dogs took after a squirrel but I didn't think much of it.
"Rags had a squeal and came back down. The skin on her leg was completely gone and there was blood everywhere. It was horrendous.
"Her leg looked like it was going to fall off. We were so far down the woods that she had to walk half a mile to get to a car so I could take her to the vets."
Rags was racing up a hill when her leg hit off a small tree stump and ripped open.
She was quickly taken to an out of hours appointment at the vets who stitched up the wound and later bandaged her leg.
Staff hoped the wound would heal but there has been little change in the eight-weeks since the accident.
Otherwise healthy, Rags' owner is terrified of the possibility she could be put to sleep as she cannot afford the skin graft and would be unable to pay for anything further.
Lisa has now launched a fundraising page to help pay for treatment and save Rags' life.
She said: "Rags is too big a dog to go on three legs. If we don't get this skin graft done or it doesn't take then she will need to be put to sleep.
"She is such a lovely natured dog and so gentle. It would be heartbreaking to see a young, healthy dog get put down."
Donations to the fundraising page can be made by clicking here.
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