Dachshund suffers fox attack in her garden

Ruby is a wire-haired Dachshund who lives in Sussex with her owners. Dachshunds were originally bred to flush our badgers, so Ruby's instinct to stick her nose into burrows and holes is strong. She also loves to chase squirrels and birds.

The fox den

Ruby loves to play in the garden, however she is often away with her owner, leaving it quiet, unattended and more open to nature. A fox took this time to make itself at home, creating a den in a corner of the garden.

When Ruby met the fox

On the day of the fox attack, Ruby’s owner let her out for a play in the garden. Ruby’s instincts kicked in, and she popped her head into a new entrance to the fox den for a sniff. The fox was home, and reacted by sinking it’s teeth into poor Ruby.

Ruby’s owner was alerted to the attack by her howls and ran over shouting loudly, at which point the fox finally let go. But not before some severe damage was done.

Ruby’s injuries

After being rushed to the vet, the extent of Ruby’s injuries became clear. The fox had managed to bite through her cheek, injuring her gums, and tearing a tooth out, straight from the root.

Ruby required surgery under general anaesthetic. Her cheek and gum were sewn up, and she was sent home with enough painkillers and antibiotics to last for 9 days.

Ruby’s journey to recovery

Ruby came home with a cone on to stop her from scratching her face or reopening any wounds. Her first night home, she was scared, sore, and groggy from the anaesthesia. She spent the night with her owner, crying and in pain.

It took 2 weeks for her cheek to heal, but just 2 days for her to be back at the door to the garden, watching for the fox.

Ruby has suffered permanent damage to her teeth, but is now back to health, happily wagging her tail. She still plays in the garden, but the flower beds have been fenced off for her safety - leaving her the lawn to gallivant and chase to her heart’s desire.

Protecting our dogs

Accidents really can happen anywhere, and at any time. Whether they eat something they shouldn’t, or get themselves injured on a side quest – owning a dog is full of surprises.

Ruby’s owner has said he dreads to think how much worse it could have been, and hopes by sharing his experience, it might warn others. He’s grateful that he could get Ruby treated so quickly, and that Agria acted so fast.

The cost of vet bills can quickly escalate in the case of an accident or illness. With Agria dog insurance, you can choose up to £20,000 of vet fee cover, giving you peace of mind that you can get your dog the treatment they need.

What's more, all our customers get free vet video calls 24/7 through the Agria app. So you can save time and money on unnecessary vet trips.