Dog owners everywhere are familiar with the Kong brand toy. The ultra-durable material has been proven to withstand even the toughest of canine teeth without causing damage to their dental health. They also feature the convenient opening for a treat to keep them occupied even longer.
While that usually means hours of fun for the dog, this poor pup suffered tragically from his favorite toy.
Warning: some of these photos may be hard to look at due to their graphic nature.
Maximus was a loyal, sweet, humble dog according to his human Jamie Stumpf.
She decribes the gentle rottie as a fearless defender of his pack, puppy raiser, cat whisperer, and an all-around amazing pooch.
But one day while playing with his favorite Kong toy, the pup’s tongue was suctioned in by its opening.
This is the totally normal, average toy most dog owners have probably seen.
As he continued to decline, Stumpf knew having a major portion of the tissue removed would severely hinder his quality of life.
And with a vet bill climbing over $3,700, she made the difficult and heartbreaking decision to put Maximus down.
(via San Fransisco Globe.)
As she and her family mourn this incredible loss, Stumpf hopes to warn others about this potential tragedy with their own pups.
Representatives from Kong have stated that this is the first time any health issue has been associated with their toys and that they are taking the steps to fully investigate and prevent any future family from experiencing this awful situation ever again.
