Nova Scotia dog owner wants Pedigree to review treat following dog’s death

Melissa Hawkes is mourning the death of her beloved dog, Finnegan.

“We called him our gentle giant,” said Hawkes.

“His beds, his food and his toys are all still in our house because we just aren’t ready to accept that he’s gone.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We called him our gentle giant," said Hawkes.</p><p>"His beds, his food and his toys are all still in our house because we just aren't ready to accept that he's gone."

READ: N.S. man charged with animal cruelty after dog and puppies left in freezing temps

Hawkes believes a teeth cleaning product called DentaFlex, made by Pedigree, may have contributed to her dog’s death.

“He was a part of our family. He was very, very special for us and it is like losing a very close family member,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "He was a part of our family. He was very, very special for us and it is like losing a very close family member," she said.

“It’s all taken us a bit by surprise. We feel we definitely still had a few good years left with him so we feel a little bit robbed and we feel like we may have done him a disservice.”

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Hawkes says Finnegan was a healthy 10-year-old dog who started to lose his appetite in February and was eventually admitted to an animal hospital with abdominal pain.

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“I do feel like the product played a role in Finnegan’s death but it was only a part of the story,” said Dr. Melissa Burgoyne with the Cobequid Animal Hospital. Burgoyne had treated Finnegan since he was a puppy.

READ MORE: ‘It’s an excruciating death’: SPCA reminding people to keep pets inside during cold temperatures

Hawkes says she informed Pedigree about what happened. The company did not respond to requests for an interview.

In a statement on their Facebook page, Pedigree Canada said, in part:

“We have spoken with both the pet’s family and their veterinarian and can confirm that a pre-existing condition was a contributing factor in this unfortunate situation.”

The company goes on to say they have received no similar complaints and have worked with safety experts and veterinarians to ensure the product is safe.

“We have all been touched by Finnegan’s story. Keeping pets healthy and safe is our top priority and at the core of everything we do. When a consumer contacts us with any concern about the quality or safety of one of our products we take this very seriously and investigate it thoroughly. Finnegan’s case was no different. DentaFlex has fed over 70 million chews globally and we can ensure that our product is safe to consume. We encourage any pet owner who has any concerns to contact us at 800-667-2424,” wrote Mars Canada, the parent company of Pedigree Canada, in a additional statement sent to Global News.

Full statement from Pedigree Canada on Finnegan’s death

“I think in Finn’s case, it was potentially the combination of issues with him. So, in this senior pet with some intestinal issues, the product was not appropriate for him, but in a young healthy pet, it certainly could have been fine,” said Burgoyne.

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Hawkes would like Pedigree to take a closer look at the product.

“We really don’t feel like it’s a safe product and we just want them to be aware of that.”