This is the heartwarming moment a mother dog whose head was stuck inside a plastic jar for 20 hours was rescued in Thailand.

The brown pooch limped home wearing the transparent container after wandering the neighbourhood in Ratchaburi province on August 8.

Her owners tried to remove the jar, but the animal, confused at what was happening, ran away to hide instead.

Pet owner Nipa Saengsee, 50, said: ‘We saw her around lunchtime the day before she was caught in the jar. We didn't know where she had gotten it. We tried to remove it, but she would not let us near her.'

The family called animal rescuers, who caught the dog cowering in a narrow space next to a corrugated iron fence.

The specialists grabbed it by the legs to keep it from running while pulling it out from its hiding place.

Footage shows how the officers held down the dog, which tried to flail loose from their grip. After a few minutes, it calmed down and allowed them to cut loose the plastic jar on its head.

Upon being freed, the canine sprinted away, no longer in danger of suffocating.

Relieved Nipa later thanked the rescuers after the successful operation.

She said: ‘My dog recently gave birth. Now she can be with her puppy thanks to the rescuers.'