Four Paws Pimple Ball Poses Dangers to Pets!
August 23, 2008 by Editor
Filed under CONSUMER REPORTS, Dangerous Pet Products, Pet Product Recalls
This Should Never Have Happened!
I received this message from Gail Simmons posted to all members of Dogsville on the ASPCA Online Community. She provided me with a link to this story, http://www.thechaistory.blogspot.com
On Sunday, June 22, 2008 my 10-year old lab mix, Chai, sustained a severe injury from a product that the company Four Paws Inc, produces. The toy I’m referencing is the pimple ball with bell. (Item #20227-001, UPC Code 0 4566320227 9)
While chewing on the toy, a vacuum was created and it effectively sucked his tongue into the hole in the ball. From speaking with my vet, this likely occurred because there is not a second hole in the ball preventing the vacuum effect from happening. I became aware of this when Chai approached a friend at my home whimpering with the ball in his mouth. She tried unsuccessfully to remove the ball but the tongue had swollen and could not be released.
Chai was taken to the Animal Medical Center (an emergency care facility in New York City) and was treated by Dr. Nicole Spurlock to have the ball removed. Because the size of the opening on the ball was so small, all circulation to his tongue was cut off. The doctors had to sedate him in order to remove it. Once the ball was removed, his tongue swelled to the point that he could no longer put it in his mouth. Chai was sent home with care instructions and to be observed overnight for any changes.
By the following morning Chai’s tongue had swollen even more. He was taken to his regular vet, Dr. Timnah Lee, for treatment. He was admitted and kept sedated for a period of three days during which time they were treating his wounds and waiting to determine how much of his tongue could be saved. On June 26, 2008 Chai had his tongue amputated.
He was kept in after-care for an additional three days. On Sunday June 29th I brought Chai home from the vet with a barrage of home care instructions, to last for an additional 7 days. His next visit was to have his mouth re-examined and have the feeding tube in his neck removed.
On the way home from the vet we stopped at Petland Discount where I purchased their product to speak to the manager on duty. Upon meeting Chai and seeing his condition, he removed all of the balls in question from the shelves. He also gave me the customer service number to their corporate headquarters to request that they refuse to continue purchasing all Four Paws products, but I have not called them as of yet.
To date, my veterinary bills total over $5000.00 and I will have regular follow up appointments for some time. Additionally, Chai now requires a much more expensive form of food because of this injury, averaging approximately $200 per month.
Also - I am Chai’s sole caretaker and the regime required to care for him following his surgery has forced me to lose a great deal of business. I am a hair stylist and my salon is in my home. Given that Chai needs constant attention, and given that he has been wailing in pain, I have not been able to see clients.
Additionally, I now have to re-teach my dog to eat, drink and adjust to life without his tongue. Just walking him requires about 30min twice a day and we only make it three blocks. Feeding him takes me about 90 minutes twice a day and for at least this first week he is not to be unattended for more than 20 minutes at time.
The following is a link to an animal treatment clinic that has also documented the same injury to a Shepard mix.
www.logcabinanimalhospital.com/index.php/toy-ball-stuck-on-dogs-tongue/
[SecurePet Note: this link is no longer working, we contacted the animal hospital to find out why they have removed the story from their web site and they stated it was because the veterinarian who treated this particular dog is no longer working there.]
I sent this information along with the reference to Petunia the french bulldog to Four Paws Inc, and it is their position that there just aren’t enough instances to do anything about this. I told their Insurance company’s case manager that was not a good enough excuse, It was inferred that my dogs value wasn’t much and that his pain and suffering don’t count as he is just a piece of property.
This should never happen to another animal again!
For an update on this story please visit:
[...] Four Paws Pimple Ball Poses Dangers to Pets! This Should Never Have Happened! I received this message from Gail Simmons posted to all members of dogsville on the ASPCA Online Community. She provided me with a link to this story, http://www.thechaistory.blogspot.com. On Sunday, June 22, 2008 my 10-year old lab mix, Chai, sustained a severe injury from a product that the company Four Paws Inc, produces. The toy I’m referencing is the pimple ball with bell. (Item #20227-001, UPC Code 0 4566320227 9) While chewing on the toy, a vacuum was [...]
[...] Four Paws Inc. has voluntarily halted all shipments of its Pimple Ball with Bell toys and requested that retailers remove the products from their shelves immediately. Consumers can visit the Four Paws Inc. site to see a complete listing of product item numbers and UPC codes. All consumers who purchased the toys identified in this listing are requested to immediately remove the toy from their pet. The company’s web site also offers contact information. Read more here: [...]
As a fellow dog lover & owner, its heart-breaking to see your pup in pain. He will recover and will adjust. Just give it some time. I recommend hiring an experienced attorney to sue them for damages and suffering. You have a good case. Hopefully, the award will cover for the medical expenses and future expenses that you will incur. Our hearts are with you.
Hello Jimmy,
Chai’s owner will be happy to receive your condolences. You can visit his web blog at:
http://www.thechaistory.blogspot.com
Thankfully the Four Paws Inc. company has issued a voluntary recall of the defective products,
Thanks for stopping by to visit,
Gyvel
I think Four Paws should pay your vet bills and they should also be responsible to pay the extra costs involved with feeding your dog now (for the remainder of his natural life). You now have to take a lot of extra time to care for your dog for the rest of his life, which could be years, so thats a huge task on your part. And,,, the poor dog has to give up enough things in his life too (just because of some dumb company’s money making stupidly dangerous ball) in terms of the dog not only unable to eat properly, but he can’t lap up a good drink of water anymore when he’s darn thirsty. I will never purchase anything that has the words Four Paws on it, and I’ll make sure my friends continue to forward this info to their friends etc etc.. Good luck with your law suit, if it were me, that company would have quite the challenge!
I think no one needs to be mad at Four Paws Inc. Yes, the dog owners whos’ dogs were injured have a right to be frustrated about a fairly reckless mistake on the part of this toy in particular, but I can guarantee you the makers of the toy feel awful. If they work for a dog toy company, im sure they adore dogs as much if not more than we do, and they obviously wouldn’t make a toy with the intent of hurting one. I personally love playing instruments, and I know that if I made some instrument accessory that ended up damaging peoples’ instruments, I would feel like CRAP. So cut FPI a break guys. They don’t like the idea of hurting dogs any more than anyone else.