Two dog owners have shared their stories of incidents that were close calls as a warning to other pet parents this Christmas season.

• Tato the Labrador ate half a Christmas tree worth of baubles and was within an hour of death when found by owner, Tash.
• Dora the Beagle indulged in a mince pie feast, leading to an emergency dash to the vet to save her life.

Tato the Labrador’s traumatic bauble experience

Tato, a Telford-based, one-year-old Labrador has a mischievous streak that took the Scholz family by surprise. One day, Tato took advantage of being left alone. Returning home, Tash, his owner, found Tato had swiped and eaten all the baubles from the lower half of the Christmas tree. Even though the baubles were plastic, the edges were still sharp enough to cut her finger on.

Quick action led Tash to rush Tato to the vet within the critical two-hour window for potential complications. The vet said if Tash had arrived an hour later it may have been fatal; the crushed baubles could have caused a blockage in his alimentary canal or lacerated it on the way. An emetic induced vomiting, and although acting “drunk-like” and falling over numerous times, Tato fully recovered the next day.

The incident served as a wake-up call for Tash, realising the real danger posed by sharp edges of plastic baubles and the importance of her policy with Agria Pet Insurance, being there when Tato was in need.

Robin Hargreaves, Senior Veterinary Adviser for Agria Pet Insurance said: “There is almost no limit to the range of things I have seen dogs swallow, from car keys to underwear, even a whole tea towel! It's important to seek veterinary advice as soon as you realise anything like this has happened. As mentioned in this case, a delay may mean your vet can no longer do one of the least risky measures to try to retrieve the lost object.  Some items can be extremely dangerous so do not delay.”

Dora the Beagle’s Near Fatal Snack

Dora, an adventurous Beagle, resides in a lively household with six Beagle pals, chickens, bees, and her humans. The family's five-acre playground keeps mischief at bay, but owner Becky notes that if attention wanes, the Beagles find creative ways to remedy it.

Becky, a former Beagle breeder, knows their love for food and keen sense of smell can complicate training. At Christmas, 8-year-old Dora scaled a play kitchen to steal mince pies, leading to an emergency vet visit due to potential grape hazards. Dora luckily recovered well, much to Becky’s relief.

This misadventure, echoing past costly experiences, underscores the necessity of thorough pet insurance. Dora's escapade serves as a reminder: her vigilance and cover with Agria Pet Insurance are key to ensuring the well-being of her cherished companion.