A PEDIGREE Shih Tzu dog was "days away from death", because of a lack of care given by its owner, magistrates heard.

The RSPCA said Nicole Dheroo's pet was unrecognisable as a dog and was severely underweight, infected, collapsed and dehydrated.

Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court was told the dog's plight was only discovered after a fire at Dheroo's house, when concerned firefighters saw the animal and alerted the RSPCA.

Dheroo, 23, of Whitehead Place, Fagley, Bradford, pleaded guilty to three charges - two of failing to seek appropriate veterinary care and one of not ensuring the welfare of the animal - when she appeared at the court.

RSPCA inspector Emma Ellis said yesterday: "This poor creature was in such an appalling condition he was unrecognisable as a dog. He was so matted his eyes weren't visible and he was so thin he had collapsed as he was too weak to stand.

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"The vet said he was literally days away from death.

"He was treated and fostered and, miraculously, has made a full recovery."

Nigel Monaghan, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said: "The dog was collapsed, emaciated and its hair matted beyond recognition. It was severely underweight and had conjunctivitis.

"It was totally unrecognisable as a dog, let alone a Shih Tzu. Its hair was so matted you could not see its eyes. The vet says it was days from death."

Mr Monaghan added: "The fire service alerted the RSPCA to the condition of the dog. Otherwise the dog might not have survived."

Dheroo bought the dog in March 2013 for £325 and initially looked after it well, the court heard. She bathed it once a week, brushed its hair two to three times a day, and fed it two-and-a-half tins of dog food each day.

But Mr Monaghan said the dog weighed only 3.1kg when the RSPCA took it from Dheroo. The dogs usually weigh between 4kg and 7.5kg.

"She had no idea he was so thin," said Mr Monaghan. "She had not noticed the condition the dog was in, with its eyes oozing puss.

"It had dehydration, emaciation and an eye infection. Its ribs were visible, it was lethargic and foul-smelling. Faeces was encrusted around the dog."

Faryal Akhtar, mitigating, said mum-of-two Dheroo had never owned any kind of animal before and had gone through a difficult time prior to her level of care dropping.

"She accepts she failed in a duty of care to this dog," said Miss Akhtar. "She is happy that the dog has been rehomed.

Magistrate Nadine Tidswell said it was one of the worst cases of ill-treatment of an animal possible, and told Dheroo: "It was at death's door and nearly died. You did not feed it, did not care about it and did not look after it."

Dheroo, who has no previous convictions, will be sentenced on May 5 after magistrates adjourned the case for pre-sentence reports.