The Jack Russell cross Maltese terrier is expected to make a full recovery following surgery last Friday but it could have been a close call.

Albion Veterinary Surgery head surgeon Andrew Lobb, who performed emergency surgery on the beloved pet, said she was very fortunate not to have damaged her internal organs.

“When she swallowed the hook she was at significant risk of perforating her oesophagus, which could have caused damage to her lungs and prevent her from breathing, with an almost certain death”.

It was not uncommon for animals to swallow hooks or get them stuck in their mouths but Tilla’s case was unique because of the the size of the hook relative to the size of dog, according to Dr Lobb.

“It was a four centimetre hook and she’s a three kilo dog, so that means that most of her stomach was filled with hook,” he said.

The veterinary surgeon hoped Tilla’s brush with death brought more awareness to the importance of keeping waterways clear for pets and wildlife.

“For such a small, thoughtless thing to forget a fishing hook could have some really great ramifications on the environment and our ecosystem,” he said.

Tilla’s owner, Colleen Monaghan, was praised for her quick response in noticing the fishing line protruding from her dog's mouth while walking along the Brisbane River.

“We were very lucky that the hook she swallowed was still attached to the fishing rod,” she said.

“But if it hadn’t of been attached, it could have been disastrous.”

Ms Monaghan also urged anyone fishing around waterways not to leave anything lying around that could be a hazard to kids, pets or wild animals.

“If it wasn’t for them [the vet surgery], she wouldn’t be here,” Ms Monaghan said.

“We wouldn’t be having such a happy outcome and being able to warn people about the dangers of discarded and unattended fishing rods,” she said.

In the event of a similar incident, Dr Lobb urged owners to avoid pulling on the fishing line and attend the nearest veterinary clinic as soon as possible.