Does pet insurance cover poisoning and swallowing foreign objects?

Key takeaways

• Most pet insurance policies will cover vet treatment if your pet eats something toxic or swallows a foreign object

• Treatment you can claim for include induced vomiting, scans, medication, hospitalisation and surgery

• You should take your pet to the vet immediately if it eats or swallows something dangerous, as early treatment vastly improves health outcomes

Will pet insurance cover my pet eating something toxic?

Yes, most pet insurance policies will cover treatment if your pet eats, drinks or comes into contact with something toxic, such as chocolate, medicines or certain plants.

Poisoning is generally covered by all four types of pet insurance: lifetime, time-limited, maximum benefit, and accident-only.

However, if your pet develops an illness as a result of the poisoning, the amount of cover depends on your policy. Lifetime policies offer the most comprehensive protection because they cover both accidents and illnesses, and continue to cover long-term conditions year after year.

📣 Did you know? 94.8%^{^} of food poisoning claims in 2025 involved dogs, while just 5.2%^{^} involved cats, according to The Insurance Emporium’s claims data.

Will pet insurance cover my pet swallowing something dangerous?

Yes, most pet insurance policies will cover treatment if your pet accidentally swallows something such as a toy, ball, sock, stone or clothing.

The main danger is damage to the digestive system. This was the condition treated in 92.1%^{^} of pet insurance claims involving swallowing a foreign body. However, pet insurance should also cover treatment for damage to the throat (required in 5.8%^{^}of cases) and the respiratory system (2.2%^{^}).

Swallowing foreign objects will generally be covered by all four types of pet insurance - lifetime, time-limited, maximum benefit, and accident-only.

However, if your pet has a habit of swallowing objects they shouldn’t, insurers could class this as a behavioural issue. It may then be treated as a pre-existing condition, which means ongoing treatment is only likely to be covered if you had a lifetime policy in place before the behaviour started.

📣 Did you know? Almost four in five foreign object claims in 2025 involved dogs (79.5%^{^}), according to The Insurance Emporium's claims data. Cats accounted for the remaining 20.5%^{^}.

Will pet insurance cover me if my pet eats medicines or drugs?

Yes, in most cases pet insurance will cover treatment for your pet if they consume legal or illegal substances.

If your pet eats any amount of an illegal drug, you should immediately take them to the vet and give as much information as you can about what they have eaten so the right treatment can be provided. Vets and pet insurers are not mandated reporters, and it is very unlikely they would involve the police.

Pet poisoning from medicines such as ibuprofen and from illegal drugs such as marijuana is relatively common. Together, these types of poisonings account for 59.4%^{^} of pet insurance claims involving a hazardous substance.

This is almost three times the proportion of claims arising from pets eating rat poison (20.7%^{^}), and significantly more than for other hazards such as pet eating mould (3.2%^{^}), cleaning products (2.3%^{^}), paint or chemicals (1.8%^{^}) and glue (0.5%^{^}).

What are the treatments for poisoning and foreign body removal, and will pet insurance cover these?

Most pet insurance policies will cover the main treatments for poisoning and foreign body removal. These include inducing vomiting, administering activated charcoal, giving IV fluids, monitoring organ function, hospitalisation, endoscopic removal (using forceps) and surgery.

You can generally also claim for the vet consultation fees, diagnostic fees (e.g. X-rays to see where an object is stuck) and prescribed medication.

As the pet owner, you will need to pay your excess and any costs beyond your policy limit (the maximum amount your insurer will pay out). For lifetime policies, this limit usually resets each year.

What happens if I don’t have pet insurance and my pet is poisoned or swallows a foreign object?

Without pet insurance, you will need to pay for any vet bills yourself. If your pet needs intensive or expensive treatment beyond what you can afford, you have a few options:

• Ask your vet about payment plans - some surgeries will let you spread the cost over time, sometimes with 0% interest

• Contact animal charities - some, such as the PDSA and Blue Cross, offer low-cost vet care or help with vet bills, but you generally need to have a low household income to qualify

• Surrender or euthanise your pet – if your pet is suffering and you cannot afford treatment, your vet will be able to discuss with you whether one of these options is the most humane course of action

Some pet owners put aside savings to cover unexpected vet bills instead of taking out insurance. This can be a particularly popular option for owners of senior dogs or senior cats (usually defined as animals over eight years old), as pet insurance generally requires co-pays for older pets (i.e. insurance will only cover a certain proportion of any bill).

Is it worth getting pet insurance for accidental poisonings and swallowing foreign objects?

Even well-trained pets can unexpectedly eat something toxic or get an object lodged in their digestive system. Pet insurance can protect you from a potentially large bill if your animal is poisoned or swallows a foreign object.

Research from Direct Line found that 28%^{^} of dog owners and 19%^{^} of cat owners have experienced their pet becoming unwell after eating something poisonous. 69%^{^} of those dogs and 71%^{^} of the cats became so unwell they needed veterinary treatment.

Vet bills can quickly add up. For example, Animal Trust, a community healthcare provider that markets itself as more affordable than most, charges £419^{^} for an X-ray, £1,019^{^} for an endoscopy, and £27^{^} to write a prescription (the medicine charge is on top).

In contrast, the average pet insurance price paid by MoneySuperMarket customers is just £23.63^{^} a month.

Many households find a fixed monthly insurance payment easier to budget for than having to find the money for a large, unexpected vet bill. Pet insurance can also give you peace of mind that you won't have to limit the care you can give your pet because you cannot afford the recommended treatment.

📣 Did you know? Cocker Spaniels and Labrador Retrievers each accounted for 9.8%^{^}of poisoning claims in 2025, more than any other breed.

How much does treatment cost if my pet is poisoned or swallows a foreign object?

It depends on factors like your pet's species, breed, size, overall health and the treatment required, but treating pet poisoning and removing a swallowed foreign object often costs several hundred pounds.

For example, Animal Friends, a pet insurer, puts the cost of treating toxic ingestion in dogs at £635 - £877^{^}, depending on their size. Foreign body claims are generally more expensive because they can require surgery to remove the object. Animal Friends puts the average cost of swallowing a foreign object at £1,368^{^} for dogs weighing under 5kg and £1,645^{^} for large dogs weighing between 21-50kg.

Vet bills can increase significantly if your pet needs to be hospitalised. For example, Animal Trust charges £719^{^} for the first 48 hours, followed by £359^{^} per day. If your pet needs intensive care, there is an additional charge of £359^{^} per day.

When won't pet insurance cover poisoning or swallowing an object?

Your pet insurer may not pay all or part of your poisoning or ingestion claim if:

• the incident happened before your policy started

• the incident happened during the waiting period immediately after taking out your policy

• your policy had lapsed or you had missed payments

• the claim exceeds your cover limits

• the treatment falls outside your policy terms

Always read your policy documents so you know what is and isn't covered.

📣 Did you know? According to the latest data from the Financial Conduct Authority, 94.5%^{^} of lifetime pet insurance claims were paid in 2024.

Should I take my pet to the vet if they eat chocolate, raisins or other harmful foods?

Yes. Chocolate (especially dark chocolate) and raisins (including grapes) are some of the most dangerous foods for pets. Together, they were responsible for 70.2%^{^} of all food poisoning claims in 2025, according to The Insurance Emporium’s claims data.

Other dangerous human foods include avocados, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts, caffeine, and alcohol. There is also an artificial sweetener called xylitol that is toxic to dogs (but not cats) and is found in some sugar-free foods, chewing gum and peanut butter. Xylitol was responsible for 5%^{^} of pet food poisoning claims in 2025.

💡 Top tip: Never feed your pet cooked bones, as these can splinter and either become a choking hazard or cause damage to your pet's digestive system.

Should I take my pet to the vet if they eat flowers or plants?

Yes, you should take your dog or cat to the vet if they eat a toxic plant.

Lilies are particularly dangerous, especially for cats. Lilies were the root cause of 63.3%^{^} of all pet poisoning claims related to plants. If you believe your pet has ingested any part of a lily, take them to the vet immediately.

Other plants that are poisonous to dogs and cats include acorns, algae, aloe vera, azaleas, daffodils, rhododendrons, tulips, and tomato plants (ripe tomatoes are fine, but the unripe fruit and leaves are toxic).

💡 Top tip: It is not generally harmful for your pet to eat grass. Cats and dogs often seek out grass to eat when they have digestive problems, as it is high in fibre.

What are the symptoms of pet poisoning?

Symptoms vary depending on what your pet has eaten, but common signs of pet poisoning include:

• vomiting

• diarrhoea

• excessive drooling

• lethargy

• tremors

• seizures

• breathing difficulties

• loss of appetite

• collapse

Some pets show few or no symptoms at first, so always seek veterinary advice if you suspect poisoning.

How much of a toxic food or substance will make my pet sick?

There is no amount of a toxic food or substance that is guaranteed to have no harmful effects on your pet. If you think your dog or cat has eaten something toxic, contact a vet immediately. You can also call an animal poisoning hotline for advice.

While you may hear stories of pets eating something poisonous and being perfectly fine, every animal reacts differently. Factors such as your pet's size, age, breed, and overall health can all affect how severely they are affected.

Symptoms are not always immediate, and even a small amount of a toxic substance can make your pet seriously ill. Getting treatment as early as possible can greatly improve your pet's chances of recovery.

💡 Top tip: Some pet insurance policies include access to a veterinary helpline where you can get advice on whether a substance is likely to be harmful and whether you should take your pet to a vet.

How can I stop my pet eating something it shouldn't?

You can reduce the risk of your pet eating something dangerous by:

• storing toxic foods, medicines and household substances out of reach in high cupboards or locked cabinets

• keeping chocolate, raisins and other harmful foods in sealed containers that pets can't access

• choosing pet-safe cleaning products and pest control where possible

• checking that toys, treats and chews are a suitable size for your pet's age and breed

• checking your home, garden, and walking routes for plants that are toxic to pets (there are apps that can help you identify them)

• using crates, baby gates and other barriers to stop your pet accessing areas where harmful substances are stored, especially when you're not home

• asking guests not to feed your pet human food and supervising young children who may accidentally offer them something harmful

Where can I buy pet insurance that covers poisoning and swallowing foreign objects?

With MoneySuperMarket, you can compare pet insurance quotes from 38^{^} top UK insurers to find cover that suits your pet and your budget.

As well as comparing prices, you can check important features such as vet fee limits, excesses and policy types, making it easier to choose the right cover for your pet.