Home Basket Checkout Contact Us

Worrying Number Of Dogs Treated For Chocolate Poisoning At Easter In 2017

It's Easter again and there are Chocolate eggs and Hot cross buns everywhere! While we are looking forward to indulging in sweet treats,  it's really important for pet owners to keep chocolate treats safely out of reach of inquisitive pets this Easter. Findings released by British Veterinary Association reveal that six in ten (62%) vets treating small animals saw at least one case of chocolate poisoning over Easter holidays last year.

Worryingly, despite information shared by companies like ourselves at Barker and Barker Treats,to keep chocolate away from pets, the BVA survey revealed that the majority of vets still see urgent cases over the festive period because chocolate treats have not been secured out of reach of pets. While most vets across the UK saw an average of two cases of chocolate poisoning last Easter, around one in eight (13%) treated five or more cases, which is more than double the figure reported over the previous two years.

Chocolate can be highly poisonous to pets, with dogs most commonly affected. It contains theobromine, a naturally occurring chemical found in cocoa beans, which, while safe for humans, is harmful to dogs and other animals. The level of toxicity depends on the amount and type of chocolate ingested - dark chocolate and cocoa powder are most toxic- as well as the size of the dog, with smaller dogs and puppies being most at risk. 

The effects of chocolate poisoning in dogs usually appear within 12 hours and can last up to three days. First signs can include excessive thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea and restlessness. These symptoms can then develop into hyperactivity, tremors, abnormal heart rate, hyperthermia and rapid breathing. In severe cases, dogs can experience fits and heartbeat irregularities and some cases can result in coma or death

If you suspect that your dog has eaten chocolate contact your veterinary immeadiately. If you can, keep the labels and take these to the vets as your vet will want to know how much chocolate your dog has eaten and what type. 

 

Posted On: 29/03/2018

Comments (0)

Write Comment
Your Name:

Email:


Comment: Note: HTML is not translated!

Enter the code in the box below: