GREENSBORO, NC -- Dog owners say this a treat called the "Real Ham Bone" is making their dogs sick, or worse, killing them.
"I thought that was pretty cool for that big of a bone for my little dog," says Dave Marklein.
But the treat turned into near tragedy for his dog, Gunner.
"In the middle of the night he had diarrhea and bloody diarrhea. He was almost died."
Dave says vets told him Real Ham Bone splintered in Gunner's stomach and blocked his colon.
"I trusted that product. It was in the store," says Dave.
And it still is. Dynamic Pet Products makes the bone and sells it in Walmarts and other stores across the country. That's despite the fact the Better Business Bureau has been warning about the Real Ham Bone for the last five years.
"Some of these dogs have suffered horribly some have died and they are family members," says Tracy Hardgrove with the BBB.
Tracy says at least six dogs died from eating the bone. Hundreds more got very sick.
The BBB sent every complaint to the company's owner, David Frick. And they asked him to stop making the Real Ham Bone.
"And his response has been that the bone is safe," says Tracy.
Little Gunner would disagree. After $5000 worth of vet care, the dog did come home. Dave joins the BBB in asking Walmart and other stores to stop selling the bone.
"It belongs in the dumpster," says Dave.
The BBB also gave the complaints to the FDA but the agency said it didn't have enough complaints to do anything. So the BBB sent these bones to every senator this past summer. And now a Missouri senator says she's going to ask the FDA to look into the bone's safety.
If you're pet has had a bad experience with the Real Ham Bone by Dynamic Pet Products and you want to file a complaint, here's how with the FDA and with the BBB.
