Warning - Bob Martin Water/Drinking Bottle

Gordy237

I recently bought a Bob Martin (My Little Friend) Drinking Bottle from Asda for my rabbit and guinea pig. All of the bottles I have tried in the past seem to leak, so I was pleased when this one didn't and thought no more of it.

After using it for about 5 days my rabbit found some water on the floor and started to drink frantically, I realised that there was a problem and noticed that the ball had disappeared up inside the spout and no water was coming out. I quickly filled an old leaky bottle and sat holding it to my rabbit's mouth while she constantly drank for over 5 minutes.

On closer inspection of the bottle I found that the plastic casing around the spout had been chewed and so had the label (they have access to both sides), obviously they had been trying to get to the water to no avail and became quite destressed and dehydrated.

I contacted Bob Martin and they seemed to take it as a serious complaint, I was informed that someone was being sent to China to inspect the production line and check to bottles, I wasn't going to hold my breath.

Sure enough, they told me that no fault was found and the matter has been closed.

Whilst waiting for them to get back to me I decided to do a bit of research myself, so I bought another two bottles (one being a different size so it could not be from the same batch), both have the same problem, the ball travels back up the spout, stopping animals from being able to tap it with their tounge, so no air can get past causing no water to come out.

Even though I have explained this to them and someone else has also complained about the same problem they refuse to take it any further.

I have tried to get in touch with the Buyer at Asda's, I feel that as they are probably their biggest customer (as I have not found it stocked in any other multiple retailer), if they take it off their shelves Bob Martin will have to take notice, I have had no joy there either.

So I have now informed Watchdog, the email response says that they might not get back to me as they have alot of complaints to look at, but I live in hope.

I will be getting in touch with organisations like the RSPCA, some may say that I should have done this at the begining, but I wanted to give Bob Martin the opportunity to recall these products first.

So... sorry for the lenght of this post and to sum up, dont buy this product and if you already have it, check it thoroughly to ensure your pets are not suffering!!!!!!

Ms_Chocaholic

Have you thought of contacting Trading Standards

juno

Why did it take you 5 days to notice the problem? Surely you should've been to change the water after one day and realised not much had been drank.

mum2one

had you got more than one water bottle - does seem a long time to leave the rabbit with the same water for 5 days.

Def contact trading standards

southernscouser

juno wrote: »

Why did it take you 5 days to notice the problem? Surely you should've been to change the water after one day and realised not much had been drank.

That was my first reaction aswell! :undecided

Gordy237

Yes, now that I have had no luck with Bob Martin and I refuse to let this go, I am going to contact anyone who will listen, lol.

I intend to contact them next week.

I know that 5 days does seem a long time, the water had been replaced but I didnt notice that the bottle had been chewed. Some water had been drank, presumably before it started to slide up, I believe they were getting minimal amount of water before the ball disappeared altogether.

Even with the leaky bottles, in this weather they dont drink as much, so I didn't notice anything wrong.

Please be assured though, their area is cleaned twice a day and have the run of a 14ft shed, apart from this dreadful mishap - which I feel very guilty about - they are spoilt rotten and are well taken care of.

Thank you for replying.

southernscouser

I couldn't understand how your water bottle was setup, but when I had hamsters, if I fixed the bottle to the outside of the cage with the spout poking through, they used to chew through the metal. Woke up one morning to find them in a swimming pool as it was a pint sized one coz they used to shake the smaller ones.

Anyway I then started fixing it on the inside and they stopped chewing it!

I'm not sure this helps you in anyway!

Now I'm rambling. When we had a rabbit we had a water bottle type thing that you used to turn upside down to fill. When turned up the right way the little pool thing would fill up but not overflow. When the rabbit drunk it would just refil straight away! Does that make any sense? :rotfl:

southernscouser

Not wxactly the same thing but same principle. No ball bearing.

http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5082e/X5082E14.GIF

Gordy237

Cor!! You drew that quick, lol.

This is a link to the bottle, they are the ones that you poke through the cage and as you can see, they have a plastic sheath just under an inch long at the top of the spout, this is what they chewed.

http://www.bobmartin.co.uk/SmallAnimalProductDetails.asp?ProductID=10099

Froglet

I would post this on the pets board as well in case others have not realised the problem

Gordy237

Thank you for the advice, I have posted this on the other board.