A mum feared her dog was going to die after being given a bone from Home Bargains.
Joanne Nelson, from Orrell Park, wants to warn other dog owners after she returned home from holiday to find her dog George was critically unwell. The eight-year-old basset hound was being looked after by Joanne's ex-husband, who had given him a Mediterranean Natural Snacks ham bone from Home Bargains on Friday, June 2, as a treat.
Joanne said dog George didn't show any signs of choking or discomfort while chewing the bone, but hours later he became seriously unwell.
READ MORE: Grandad goes to bookies with dog every day for touching reason
Joanne told the ECHO: "[My ex-husband] took him out to a field and he was running around with his friends - another dog. Then he's brought him back in the car, came in and thought he is looking quiet.
"A couple of hours after eating the bone he started panting which isn't like him, then he vomited.
"He couldn't settle. He was walking up and down. He's normally very close to us and keeps lying by us. He was up and down hiding under the dining table."
George was taken to the emergency vets on June 2, where he was given anti-sickness medication before being allowed home. But when his condition took a turn for the worse the following day, the family took George back to the vets for further tests.
Joanne said: "They did a repeat X-ray and there was fragments of bone in his intestines. He was too poorly to operate on at this point.
"The first night they said he was critical and they didn't think he was going to survive the night."
Joanne said she has contacted Home Bargains about what happened and has requested for the bone to be taken off the shelves while an investigation is carried out. She has come forward in a bid to warn other dog owners and stop the same thing from happening to anyone else.
Joanne said: "He's a fit and well dog normally. He doesn't suffer from any health issues. My daughter is beside herself. I just don't want anything like this happening to any other dogs."
Dog George, who has not yet been allowed home from the vets, has passed through most of the fragments of bones now and is recovering well from the ordeal.
Joanne added: "There's still a few fragments, that's why they started him on laxatives.
"This is the first day that he's almost back to himself. He's so much better."
Home Bargains have been contacted for comment.
READ NEXT:
See who you remember in these photos of one lost Liverpool school
Boots shoppers 'ditching foundation' after trying £10 anti-ageing cream
