Sparkles needed skin staples after he badly injured his leg

Sparkles, who lives in Newhaven, East Sussex, ripped out a fireplace, bit through a metal key, ripped at doors, and broke a glass cabinet in his panic.

The two-year-old German Shepherd had to be treated by the PDSA for a cut leg.

Brighton vet Jonathan Gravestock urged owners planning to mark the new year with fireworks to "protect their pets".

The dog was injured during the morning of Sunday 6 November, when fireworks were let off close to his home while his owner was out.

His injuries could have been much worse Jonathan Gravestock, PDSA veterinary surgeon

Mr Gravestock said when Sparkles was taken to the Brighton PDSA PetAid hospital he was in a "terrible state".

"He was covered in soot from ripping out the fireplace and trying to hide in it, and had a badly cut paw and a sore muzzle from ripping frantically at the furniture.

"His injuries could have been much worse. We were very surprised that his teeth weren't broken from chewing the metal key," he said.

The veterinary surgeon added that the noise of fireworks could really shock pets, causing them to become disorientated and frightened.

"They are being used more and more frequently. The next occasion will be New Year so pet owners need to plan ahead now to protect their pets," he urged.