Dog treat probe after Christmas Day death

1:50pm Friday 4th January 2013 in News By Emily Walker, Chief Reporter

Burtie's owners fear he was killed by a dog treat Burtie's owners fear he was killed by a dog treat

A COUPLE fear their beloved pet which died on Christmas Day was killed by a dog treat.

Miniature schnauzer Burtie fell ill after eating a bone sold by a major supermarket chain and died on a vet’s operating table on December 25.

Owners James Lancaster and Anna Carey, of Warwick Road, Worthing, believe the two-year-old’s agonising death was caused by a Bob Martin Premium Ham Bone, bought from Tesco in Church Road, Hove, becoming lodged in his stomach.

The supermarket and the manufacturers have both vowed to investigate after Burtie’s death.

On Christmas Eve Mr Lancaster and Ms Carey took Burtie to Grove Lodge Veterinary Hospital in Worthing where an X-ray showed fragments of bone stuck in Burtie’s stomach and intestines.

Despite the best efforts to save Burtie, they had to make the difficult decision to put him to sleep after finding there was not enough healthy stomach tissue left to save him.

Grove Lodge vet Marc Abraham said: “It looks like the particular cause of the tissue death was down to the bone – whether it was the pressure or a rupture.

“The bottom line is you always have to be incredibly wary with bones.

“We would say to people think very carefully and consider the alternatives before giving your dog a bone. It is just not worth it as there are plenty of perfectly safe treats out there.”

The distraught couple are now seeking compensation for their vet’s bills from the supermarket and urging shops to remove the bones from sale.

Ms Carey, 34, said: “It seems unbelievable, and perverse, that a potentially lethal product can be packaged up as a dog treat and sold to unsuspecting pet owners.

“These products should be taken off the shelves to prevent more, inevitable, heartache.”

Mr Lancaster, 35, added: “Burtie was part of the family and we absolutely adored him.

“His loss has come as a great shock, but we are determined some good should come of it.

“We want people to be aware of the dangers involved in giving your dog a bone – particularly cured or cooked ones – and are calling on supermarkets to stop selling them.”

A spokeswoman for both Bob Martin and Tesco said it would be investigating the situation.

The spokeswoman for Bob Martin also expressed her condolences to the couple.

She added: “We understand James and Anna’s concerns and our quality team will be review- ing the product and the safety messaging so we can best prevent a reoccurrence.

“However, until we have fully investigated this situation, we are unable to comment on the specifics of this case.”

She added that all Bob Martin bones carry a warning ‘supervise when feeding as bone could splinter’ and ‘while bones are sourced to minimise this chance, it cannot be 100% avoided’.

Comments(21)

MuammarQaddafi says...
2:32pm Fri 4 Jan 13

A sad story, but preventable. Ham/pork, and especially chicken bones should never be given to dogs to chew as they can all splinter with potentially tragic results as we see here. Rawhide 'bones' can shred dangerously. If you must give your dog a bone, make it a good-sized beef bone as they are the safest.

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jools99 says...
2:32pm Fri 4 Jan 13

I cannot understand how cooked bones can be sold as they are brittle and can easily shatter and splinter with terrible consequences. Dogs should only be given raw marrow bones and never cooked ones.

My condolences to Ms Carey and Mr Lancaster.

RIP little Burtie.

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Anna53 says...
3:08pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Bertie was such a gorgeous boy who didn't deserve to suffer in the way that he did. He was originally seen by Northdale Vets in Victoria Road, Worthing who sent him home because they were closing on Christmas Eve despite having taken x-rays and seen the splinters inside his stomach. They knew he had not been able to drink anything for 12 hours and in reality should have put him on a drip and operated on him straight away. Instead they said that he should pass the splinters naturally over time but all it succeeded in doing was more damage as the splinters were travelling through his system. Anna and James trusted Northdale but after a couple of hours could see that poor Bertie was getting worse and took him to Grove Lodge, who were the emergency vets over the christmas period but it was all too late and his insides were so ripped up there was nothing they could do.
I am sure that Northdale who make a lot of money out of pet owners (as do all vets) had a wonderful Christmas which in my view seemed to be more important than helping to save a young dog's life..

RIP Bertie - you will never be forgotten and forever in our thoughts

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Crystal Ball says...
3:24pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Poor little furry chap. Such a shame.

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carole-lesley says...
4:57pm Fri 4 Jan 13

I knew Burtie and this really spoiled Xmas. I am now looking for a vet who cares about animals more than dates!
Shops should not sell any product t
hat could harm. It is unforgiveable!

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Ihopenoonehasthisusername says...
5:18pm Fri 4 Jan 13

So sorry to hear about your loss. RIP little man.

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ethel80 says...
12:16am Sat 5 Jan 13

RIP Burtie. What a beautiful dog. So sad this happened to him.

Bones should never be fed to dogs under any circumstances. They are never safe I agree they shouldn't be allowed to be sold but at the same time owners need to be responsible too and research what they should be feeding their animals. Maybe this will be a step to stop they being sold as treats but unfortunately some people will still cook and feed them.

As for vets that don't care or had to get home for Christmas I don't believe it for a second. If a vets doesn't have a 24 hours service the animal will be transferred to an emergency vets at closing time if the vet feels it is necessary, what day of the year will not make the slightest difference to that. The vet in question must have believed that Burtie was going to be ok or they would have done this - this wouldn't have interfered with their schedule so what did they have to gain from sending him home if they thought he wouldn't be ok? Nothing of course. It's nonsense to say otherwise. I'm sure they are extremely saddened to hear what happened to Burtie and wished they had the powers to see the future but they unfortunately don't.

Again, rest in peace Burtie. Poor little pup.

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THFC12 says...
1:48am Sat 5 Jan 13

This is horrible to read, being a dog lover myself I can't imagine this happening to my dog, my dog will not be getting any more bones.

My thoughts are with Burties family

Rest in peace Burtie x

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Music Lover says...
8:36am Sat 5 Jan 13

Northdale Vets should have known that bone splinters are unlikely to be passed naturally and would have needed to be removed in surgery.

I have had a similar experience with my dog and the Vet was straightforward in her explanation regarding the likelihood of surgery.

For them to have shut up shop and left the dog and his owners to it is uncaring and aloof. Lets hope that they take a look at themselves as a result.

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carole-lesley says...
9:13am Sat 5 Jan 13

I agree with ethel80 as to how vets normally act however in this case the fact that it was Xmas eve was mentioned several times and Burtie WAS sent home with instructions to take him to the emergency vets if he got worse. They were not given a bill with the drugs already given - just a till receipt - or the x- ray. When the morphine wore of an hour later it was very, very obvious Burtie could not be left to work it through - he could not even sit down. The info needed could not be got from the vet as it was closed and had not been forwarded to the emergency vets. The vet has not contacted the owners at all although they know as I told them. This really haunts me.
I know that owners should not feed bones to dogs but I am sure that nearly everyone would agree if these are sold by a major store you would feel sure that they have been tested for complete safety. We really need to raise awareness both through the media and through posters up at vets surgeries. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ON SALE AT ALL - EVER.

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plantwoman says...
10:45am Sat 5 Jan 13

What a horrible thing to have happened. I'm inclined to give Northdale the benefit of the doubt, why would they send a sick animal away, they're Vets after all.
As for Grove Lodge, I would only go to them as a last resort because they are just about the most expensive vets in the world - but at least they did try and save this poor little dog which says a lot for them really.

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We're up here says...
12:34pm Sat 5 Jan 13

So sad. Poor little chap, I can't bear to think of his suffering. I will never give my dog another bone.

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martyt says...
7:34pm Sat 5 Jan 13

Anna53 wrote:
Bertie was such a gorgeous boy who didn't deserve to suffer in the way that he did. He was originally seen by Northdale Vets in Victoria Road, Worthing who sent him home because they were closing on Christmas Eve despite having taken x-rays and seen the splinters inside his stomach. They knew he had not been able to drink anything for 12 hours and in reality should have put him on a drip and operated on him straight away. Instead they said that he should pass the splinters naturally over time but all it succeeded in doing was more damage as the splinters were travelling through his system. Anna and James trusted Northdale but after a couple of hours could see that poor Bertie was getting worse and took him to Grove Lodge, who were the emergency vets over the christmas period but it was all too late and his insides were so ripped up there was nothing they could do.
I am sure that Northdale who make a lot of money out of pet owners (as do all vets) had a wonderful Christmas which in my view seemed to be more important than helping to save a young dog's life..

RIP Bertie - you will never be forgotten and forever in our thoughts
if that the case it must be the first vet the the dog was seen by ,must carry the blame for the dog been put down ,as they failed to act

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ethel80 says...
12:00am Sun 6 Jan 13

This frustrates me though. Why would it being Christmas matter - like I said vets that do not open 24 hours just transfer animals to vets that do. That doesn't cost them time or money so why wouldn't they do that if they felt it necessary? Northdale vets wouldn't have had their Christmas ruined at all, as suggested (if you think they would risk an animal life for that anyway means you really feel the vet is heartless, I'm sure there are some heartless vets out there but most spend years studying to look after your pets because they love animals), it wouldn't have made any difference at all so they really must have felt he was going to be ok and they gave the emergency vets number in case the situation changed. That is all they can do. Maybe they were wrong but like I said they didn't know that. If they did they would have just transferred him straight to the emergency vets - again it wouldn't have affected their Christmas so what would they gain from not doing it?! At the end of the day, the dog should never of been fed a bone - ever. Mistakes were made but it doesn't mean that all parties didn't do there best or try hard to save Burtie, who is the victim in all this. Talk of how much vets cost etc. makes me wonder about peoples motives. I think the concentration should be on getting this treat off the market and educating owners that all types of bones can splinter, as well as sticks.

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Sashstaff says...
8:38pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Very sad indeed. RIP little Burtie x

However, let's not get mixed up here, cooked bones can be incredibly dangerous. Appropriate RAW bones do not carry the same level of risk.

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carole-lesley says...
9:47pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Read today's Argus - where the paper has reported on other cases like Berties although not fatal. One of the vets at the mere sight of bone in the dog's stomach operated straight away and it was saved through the vets professional and experienced approach. If this had happened to Bertie, he too might be alive today. Northdale must take some responsibility for this by sending him away without adequately treating him but happily demanding payment for an appalling decision to pass the problem onto another practice. Happy and inevitably prosperous New Year Northdale. There are no excuses from the vets, Bob Martins and Tesco.

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John Steed says...
6:28pm Wed 9 Jan 13

dogs are not herbivores, they eat meat and need to chew, they would be far better off with some raw meat than fancy, expensive little gourmet pots, nothing wrong with giving a dog a bone to chew on as long as its not a bone that would splinter. the isssue in this case is two fold, (1) the bone, commercialy sold appears to have been completely unsuitable for the dog and probally any dog (2) treatment or lack of it by a vet that appears to leave a lot to be desired, either way those matters will sort out in time, sadly the loss of a pet is not so disimilar from loosing a family member and xmas will forever be a sad reminder of the loss of bertie

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jimbomcgrimbo says...
5:34pm Thu 10 Jan 13

John Steed wrote:
dogs are not herbivores, they eat meat and need to chew, they would be far better off with some raw meat than fancy, expensive little gourmet pots, nothing wrong with giving a dog a bone to chew on as long as its not a bone that would splinter. the isssue in this case is two fold, (1) the bone, commercialy sold appears to have been completely unsuitable for the dog and probally any dog (2) treatment or lack of it by a vet that appears to leave a lot to be desired, either way those matters will sort out in time, sadly the loss of a pet is not so disimilar from loosing a family member and xmas will forever be a sad reminder of the loss of bertie
..as long as it's not a bone that would splinter...? Perhaps a metal hip replacement then?? Lol. I see the usual ignorant comments about vets are also appearing. Funny how nobody complains about solicitors or architects who charge WAY more for their time than vets do. If you can't afford the vet, don't get a pet. Vets are not charities, they are businesses with staff to train and pay, buildings to lease, expensive equipment to buy and maintain etc.. I think that just because people have the NHS they just assume that vets bills should be free / cheap. Pets are a luxury, not a neccesity.

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jimbomcgrimbo says...
5:38pm Thu 10 Jan 13

ethel80 wrote:
RIP Burtie. What a beautiful dog. So sad this happened to him. Bones should never be fed to dogs under any circumstances. They are never safe I agree they shouldn't be allowed to be sold but at the same time owners need to be responsible too and research what they should be feeding their animals. Maybe this will be a step to stop they being sold as treats but unfortunately some people will still cook and feed them. As for vets that don't care or had to get home for Christmas I don't believe it for a second. If a vets doesn't have a 24 hours service the animal will be transferred to an emergency vets at closing time if the vet feels it is necessary, what day of the year will not make the slightest difference to that. The vet in question must have believed that Burtie was going to be ok or they would have done this - this wouldn't have interfered with their schedule so what did they have to gain from sending him home if they thought he wouldn't be ok? Nothing of course. It's nonsense to say otherwise. I'm sure they are extremely saddened to hear what happened to Burtie and wished they had the powers to see the future but they unfortunately don't. Again, rest in peace Burtie. Poor little pup.
Thank you Ethel, nice to see some common sense amounst the tripe.

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mischaandtrulysmummy says...
2:47pm Mon 28 Jan 13

I am devastated to read this loss.

Two years ago I begged Bob Martin to remove this product.

My two year old Labrador Mischa very nearly died having eaten exactly the same product also from Tesco.

My vet saved her by operating immediately.

There are no outward signs. She simply stopped bouncing. Which was enough for me.

I am so sad. This can't be allowed to happen again.

Poor Bertie x

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carole-lesley says...
8:51pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Some people seem determined to defend the 1st vets in question, who by the way, told Anna and James, that they did not own the X-ray they had paid a vast amount for, hence not giving it to them I case it was needed. However grove lodge were only too happy to put it on a disc for them.
If the 1st vet thought there was the slightest chance that Bertie might need more care the that and the list of drugs given should have been given to them or just forwarded to grove lodge in case. This was not done and so treatment was delayed.THIS IS UNFORGIVEABLE AND CAN NOT BE EXCUSED.
Obviously I believe that all vets care but mistakes must be admitted not excused. Vets are not infalible and lessons must be learnt from this appalling case. I am glad that the Sunday mail also thought this was important enough to run as a cautionary story last weekend.
The product is not suitable for sale and all vets surgeries should be highlighting cases like this!!!

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