AN urgent warning has been issued after a beagle overindulged on a popular festive treat.
The Kennel Club has put out the warning after a beagle had to be treated by an emergency vet after scoffing four mince pies.
GettyFestive foods can make dogs very ill[/caption]
GettyThe Kennel Club has now issued a warning to owners[/caption]
Dora managed to get hold of the pies after climbing over a 4ft-high child’s play kitchen area.
Owner Becky Shillingford, from Waterlooville in Hampshire, took Dora to an emergency vet after the incident. The vet gave Dora an emetic to make her sick.
The Beagle was kept on a drip overnight to help her recover. Many dogs need urgent medical assistance after eating grapes or raisins.
Becky, speaking to The News, said: “Although Beagles are highly food-oriented, as hounds they are very well-scented which tends to interfere with training. All my kitchen cupboards have child-locks on apart from the pantry, which has a lock and key.
“I know how seriously dogs can react to grape and raisin products so I took Dora to the emergency vet, who gave her an emetic to make her sick and she had to be kept on a drip overnight.”
Dora managed to get hold of the pies after climbing over a 4 feet high child’s play kitchen area.
She then managed to get inside a bread bin , where the mince pies were stored.
Robin Hargreaves, Senior Veterinary Advisor for Kennel Club Pet Insurance, said: “Traditional Christmas foods, such as mince pies and Christmas pudding, are full of things that are toxic to our pets, including raisins and grapes, and there are often no symptoms until the dog becomes very ill, very suddenly.
“Owners who think their pets have ingested any of these should contact their vet for advice immediately.
“Of course, prevention is key and it is always far better to be extremely vigilant and prevent access to these foods, as well as other Christmas hazards, throughout the festive season.”
Bill Lambert, head of health, welfare and breeder services executive at The Kennel Club, said: “Not only can it be a very overwhelming few weeks, with lots of unfamiliar sights and sounds, but it can also be full of tempting treats, some of which can, unfortunately, be very dangerous for our dogs.”
Dog behaviourist Nanci Creedon has revealed how to keep your family safe this festive season over fears there could be a spike in attacks.
Ms Creedon revealed the number one risk of attacks at home is when dogs and children become “hyper” together during the Christmas holiday.
Nanci also offered some advice for pet owners on how to distract and calm a dog by reflecting canine body language.
She continued: “I often tell people to walk backward slowly, do exaggerated yawns, lots of excessive heavy blinking and do head turns – slowly turn your head away from them and back to the dog and so forth.”
It comes as XL BUlly dog owners have just two weeks to ensure their dogs are legal – or face having them seized.
From December 31 the hounds must be microchipped, muzzled and kept on a lead in public and it will be illegal to breed, sell or abandon them.
Advertising, gifting and exchanging the mutts will also be outlawed and they must be kept in a secure place to prevent escape, the Government says.
Owners have been reminded that they can ask a vet to euthanize their pets and claim £200 compensation.
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