Pointer Pup with a Taste for Tunes

Whether you prefer classic rock or hip-hop, music is made to be enjoyed. One VPI-insured pup, Rudy, took that notion a little too far when he decided to make it dessert. Although I have only been with the company for about a month, I’ve seen a number of VPI’s unusual claims. “Dog ate a cassette tape” definitely caught my eye while flipping through claim forms. I mean, how in the world does a dog ingest a cassette? Do people still own tape players? What kind of music is good enough to eat? I reached out to Rudy’s owner to get some answers.

According to William Yunker of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, Rudy was only alone for a moment when he decided that a certain shiny plastic object would make a great chew toy. “When I came back in the room, there were broken pieces of a cassette tape on the floor,” said William. “The magnetic tape inside was completely gone. I looked all over the house, thinking he must have stashed it, but couldn’t find it anywhere.”

The mystery of the missing tape unraveled the next day when William spotted a piece of it dangling beneath his German pointer’s tail. After a trip to the veterinarian’s office and several X-rays, it was decided that Rudy would need surgery to remove the large amount of tape from his stomach. The procedure was scheduled for the following morning, and William took his dog home with instructions to keep a watchful eye.

To get a better understanding of the severity of the situation, I discussed Rudy’s claim with Dr. Young, director of professional services here at VPI. According to Dr. Young, if you see any kind of string dangling from either end of your pet, it’s ok to give it a light tug. If the entire piece does not come out after a gentle pull, it’s critical to stop. “The intestines are just like a hose. If it knots or kinks, water won’t be able to pass through and the hose will eventually crack,” said Dr. Young. “Similarly, if tape or string becomes tangled around the intestines and you tug at the material, you risk permanently damaging the tissue, which can be fatal to your pet.”

An example of the amount of magnetic tape Rudy ingested

Lucky for both William and Rudy, the pooch vomited up the tape that night and did not need to have surgery after all. Despite being spared the cost of the procedure, Rudy’s incident racked up more than $300 in vet bills and William was glad to have VPI’s help with the expense. “This is exactly why it was important to me to have pet insurance,” said William. “To deal with the unexpected.”

As for the question of Rudy’s taste in tunes, the world may never know. According to William, the tape definitely contained music, but the artist remains unknown. Be it by cassette, radio, vinyl or iPod, let’s hope Rudy learned his lesson, that music is best appreciated when it’s given a listen instead of a lick.