Vets are warning dog owners to steer clear of a $5 dog toy bought from Kmart after an Auckland dog was rushed to hospital.
Stephen Goument told Stuff that he bought the two-handled tug toy last July from Kmart in Albany and gave it to his dog, Touka.
Two months later Touka became seriously ill and was rushed to Orewa Vet Hospital, where vets found a piece of the toy stuck in her intestines.
After a vet bill of $4000 and months of treatment to repair the dog's gut, Goument complained to Kmart, arguing that the toy must be faulty to have broken up so easily.
Kmart replied last month, saying: "No pet toy is indestructible and can be damaged during play, for your pet's safety inspect regularly and remove if damaged."