Every year several dogs and cats and many wild animals die in the Forest and Wye Valley – victims of the annual battle by gardeners to control slugs and snails.
Saffy's brush with death has brought a warning from Mark Hinds, of the Severnside Veterinary Group.
He says the most widely available baits – often in the form of pellets and sometimes even described as 'Pet friendly' – can and will kill is they contain the chemical metaldehyde.
Mr Hinds told the Review: "Slug bait is a product readily available and commonly used at this time of year.
"In many products the main ingredient used to kills slugs and snails is metaldehyde – a chemical poisonous to all mammalian species as well as birds."
Warning pet owners and gardeners to take care while using the bait, Mr Hinds said the pelleted products often had a bran base which made them palatable to most animals.
"Accidentally eaten by pets or wildlife the consequences are fatal," he said.
Metaldehyde, he said, attacked the nervous system. The first signs an animal showed would be dribbling followed by staggering and convulsions rapidly leading to death.
Saffy, owned by Maureen Dane, of Cinderford, was lucky.
The pet arrived at the Lydney surgery on Saturday morning, dribbling and staggering.
Mr Hinds explained: "She progressed rapidly to convulsions requiring immediate heavy sedation. She had to undergo general anaesthesia to facilitate a stomach wash-out to remove any remaining slug bait.
"For the next 15 hours she was maintained under heavy sedation with aggressive fluid therapy into her veins. But with supportive care and 36 hours after being admitted, she was able to go home."