A Bradford vet has apologised to a family whose pet dog died after being injected with the wrong drug during a routine operation.

Pregnant Victoria Mollicone, 26, took her five-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier Bella to Sage Veterinary Group, Low Moor, to be neutered.

According to statements written by staff at the practice, after Bella was injected with what was thought to be anaesthetic, they began to worry when she remained awake.

On inspection of the used syringe, practice owner Graham Codd realised she had been injected with the wrong drug – an antibiotic called amoxypen.

When the mistake was noticed Miss Mollicone was informed by telephone.

Bella was given intravenous fluids, an anticoagulant, steroids, her chest was x-rayed and she was monitored throughout the afternoon.

Mr Codd tried to contact Miss Mollicone again when Bella’s condition deteriorated, but the dog died before the family could get to the surgery.

Miss Mollicone said: “She was perfectly fine, a fit, healthy dog, there was nothing wrong with her.

“She was a much-loved family pet. We got her when I was pregnant with my first son so they grew up together.”

On finding out Bella had died at the practice, on July 23, Miss Mollicone said: “My instant reaction was to snap at him, ‘You’ve killed my dog’, and I burst into tears. I just felt numb. It’s not very nice to know that a vet can make this mistake.

“I had to go home and tell my two little boys who adored that dog that she wasn’t coming home.”

Miss Mollicone said Mr Codd had offered to reimburse her the cost of the dog, which she refused to accept.

She now says she wants to see, “some kind of disciplinary action”, but says she has been told there is not enough evidence to pursue a case of negligence.

Mr Codd said he had been present when a nurse prepared the drugs, and when they were being administered.

He said: “There’s white fluid in two different types of bottle, the wrong white fluid was drawn into the syringe. We have altered our procedures. They are now kept in separate rooms, and we have two people checking.

“We are going to make sure it won’t happen again, we have put measures in place to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

He added: “We feel absolutely awful about what has happened. We have a room full of animal lovers and to end up killing something, it has had a devastating effect on our office.”