A man was so fond of his constipated office goldfish that he paid a north Norfolk vet £300 to operate and ease its suffering.

Vet Faye Bethell used tiny instruments to remove one lump close to the fish's anus, and another from its dorsal fin.

The fish-lover had taken the sick, three-inch pet for a consultation at North Walsham's Toll Barn Veterinary Centre, according to Miss Bethell, 29.

At first he had baulked at the price quoted for the treatment and went away. But he had returned five minutes later and asked for it to go ahead.

Goldfish, which can be bought for less than £3 each, can live up to 10 years. The ailing fish, which has made a full recovery, was two years and 10 months old at the time of its operation.

The delicate procedure, which lasted about 50 minutes, involved introducing a carefully-measured anaesthetising agent into the fish's water.

As it lost its balance, it was removed from its tank and placed on a waterproof drape. The anaesthetic water was then introduced into its mouth via a tube and bubbled over its gills, through which it breathes.

Using a miniature heart-rate monitor, Miss Bethell checked that the fish was properly 'under' before using a mini scalpel to remove the lumps.

She then sewed each cut with three stitches, finally using a special 'glue' to cover and waterproof the fish's scales before it was gradually re-awakened.

'There was nothing special about the fish. He just liked it a lot. People love their pets – but that was an expensive little goldfish,' said Miss Bethell, who spent Tuesday morning castrating Cadbury the skunk.

The Toll Barn practice opened a year ago and specialises in exotic animals, as well as the more usual pets.

The past 12 months have also seen Miss Bethell remove a skin tumour from a two-inch long hognose snake which weighed just 12g.

She has successfully taken out a stone from the 5mm-wide ureter of a guinea pig, at a cost of about £600, including post-op care.

Sugar gliders (a gliding possum) have been treated for a poor diet, a degu (a large rat-like rodent) for diabetes and a cat from Mundesley, which was being examined as part of its annual booster jab check, was discovered to have been shot by an air-gun pellet, which she operated to remove.

She also recently helped wildlife rescue groups save an injured sparrow hawk by pinning a broken wing, so that it could recover and be released.

'It's been an absolutely brilliant year with lovely clients and lovely animals,' said Miss Bethell, who spent Boxing Day operating to remove a corn on the cob which had got trapped in a dog's intestines, as well as making a puppy vomit after it had eaten its mistress' pills.

'It's exceeded my expectations,' she added.

'I can't believe the variety we have had.'