A terrier must wear doggy t-shirts for the rest of his days after having 40 per cent of skin burnt off his back when scalded by a chicken casserole.

Buddy, a 13-year-old Jack Russell, managed to tug at a tea towel under a slow cooker in his owners’ kitchen and topple the casserole off the counter on December 9.

Buddy’s owner Bethany Randall, 42, of Buckingham Avenue in West Molesey, said her husband Steve, 48, had been working from home and had gone out for an hour or so when he returned to find the casserole all over the floor.

Mrs Randall said: “Bits of chicken casserole were over the walls and the sofa. It looked like a murder scene.

“I came back from work and he (Buddy) was cowering under some fabrics in a bag. He was shaking.”

After putting Buddy in a cold shower, Mrs Randall took him to the vets after finding a burn on his leg.

He was given treatments but had to return when his owners realised an infection had developed under his fur.

Vets were forced to remove 40 per cent of the skin from his back and hospitalise Buddy for 12 days while they battled to save his life from third degree burns that were the “worst” they had ever seen.

He returned home just before Christmas on December 23, after which the Randalls had to take him to the vets daily, where they would pour sugar on his burns to speed up the healing process.

At one stage it was thought that Buddy may have to be put down due to the stress the treatment could have considering his old age.

But Mrs Randall said: “We thought we’ll see how it goes, and it’s great we did. Apart from being a bit bald he’s with us. He enjoys going for walks.”

She has now been making dog-sized t-shirts from her son’s old Superdry shirts to protect Buddy’s skin from the sun as his fur will never grow back.

Mrs Randall thanked her parents, who contributed £5,000 towards veterinary bills as they had no pet insurance, and praised staff at Molesey Veterinary Centre in Park Road where Buddy was treated.

She said: “They’re absolutely fantastic and so supportive and helpful. We’re really grateful. It’s astonishing what they’ve done.”

If you are interested in a dog-tshirt, email bethrandall1@hotmail.co.uk.