A DOG owner whose veterinarian failed to diagnose her pooch with ‘death of the spine’ has criticised the lack of a sincere apology.

Tori Hall, 21, rushed her French bulldog Rex to Kynoch Vets in Easthampstead last November when she noticed he was subdued, only to be told there was nothing wrong with him.

After being sent back to her Priestwood home and with Rex’s condition deteriorating, panicked Tori phoned the vet’s emergency number eight times, but a fault with the line meant her calls went unanswered.

A condition called Myelomalacia – causing the paralysis of a Rex’s hind legs – was later discovered, but Tori would now like a gesture of goodwill as she now faces the hefty bills to pay for Rex’s ongoing treatment.

“I am not asking for huge compensation,” Tori told the News. “But I would at least like something to show that they are genuinely sorry for what happened, even if it’s just a proper, sincere apology.”

Rex’s specially adapted wheelchair cost Tori and her partner James £300, while his new harness and his orthopaedic mattress set the couple back a further £120 on top of his 45-minute £40 hydrotherapy sessions.

“Rex is doing really well considering he has only had the condition for a few weeks and we were told he would never be able to walk again,” added Tori.

“He’s almost back to his old self and has already started hiding our socks again.”

Kynoch Vets were approached by the News for comment, but head veterinarian David Potter stressed company policy meant he was unable to talk about individual cases. 

While he reiterated the fault with the emergency phone line has now been fixed.

Despite the fact little Rex will never fully recover, Tori said she is committed to ensuring he gets back to being the mischievous dog he once was.

“I just want to give him the best quality of life I can,” she said.