Warning after dog nearly dies from popular Christmas treat
A dog owner has issued a warning this Christmas after her cheeky pooch nearly died due to snaffling a mince pie.
Pauline Warren, 62, only noticed 15-month-old Belgian Shepherd Mickey had helped himself to one of the festive treats from the table as she left the room to answer her front door in Derby earlier this month when he began licking his lips.
But a quick Google search revealed the raisins in mincemeat can be fatal to dogs, causing unnoticeable kidney failure which can lead to death within 48 hours.
Train production manager Pauline quickly rushed rescue dog Mickey to the vet’s – where after being put on a drip, having his stomach pumped and undergoing $1700 in treatment – he made a full recovery in time for December 25.
“Mickey ate the pie at 10.30pm, and I was talking to the vet by 11pm and there by midnight,” she said.
“He was put on a drip at 1.30am and he remained on that drip for 48 hours.
“I didn’t want to leave him that long, but vets told me it was either 48 hours on a drip, or hope and wish he would be ok.
“When I spoke to the vet, she revealed just one raisin could have killed him.
“Don’t put your mince pies in arms reach of pets – you’re gambling with your dog’s life.”
Pauline was first alerted to the dangers of raisins when consumed by dogs via a Facebook post.
But as Mickey weighs 30kg she thought a single mince pie would just cause an upset stomach.
When she checked online, she realised the effects could be much more serious than she’d initially thought.
Mickey was rushed to Scarsdale Vets’ Pride Veterinary Centre in Derby where the night team made him sick to get rid of any residual mince pie in his stomach before putting him on an IV drip for the next two days.
Due to only having Mickey for several weeks after he was rescued from Cyprus, she did not yet have pet insurance for him so was forced to splash out $1700 in savings on his care.
Pauline, who has two other pooches, said: “The vet told me that it didn’t matter what the size of dog was, it’s case by case and leaving it risks kidney failure.
“They told me that if we didn’t put him on a drip and he got kidney failure, he would have had to go on a drip for three weeks, and could still possibly die.
“Some dogs can eat a raisin, or sultana and be lucky, but it’s a risk for any dog.”
Pauline now wants every owner to understand the risks toxic raisins pose to dogs, and for them to be taken more seriously.
-Caters
