Easter warning of the dangers of chocolate to pets
Vets want owners to keep treats away from their animals
Vets across Surrey and East Hampshire are warning pet owners to keep their chocolate treats away from their animals - to avoid an Easter emergency.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has issued the warning along with a handy guide to recognising symptoms of chocolate poisoning, as Google searches in the UK for questions like ‘how much chocolate can a dog eat’, ‘signs of chocolate poisoning in dogs’ and ‘how much chocolate will kill a dog’ all show a steep annual spike at this time of the year.
Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, can be dangerous for all pets even in the smallest quantity. However, dogs are particularly susceptible to poisoning due to a chemical called theobromine, which is found naturally in cocoa beans. Theobromine takes a long time to be broken down inside a dog’s digestive system, which means that even a tiny amount of chocolate can result in toxic levels, especially for smaller dogs and puppies. For this reason, white chocolate is usually safe for dogs if ingested accidentally but the effects with milk chocolate can vary, so it’s better to err on the side of caution and keep all types of chocolate away.
Vets often see a spike in chocolate toxicity cases over celebratory periods such as Easter and Christmas. BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession surveys from 2016 to 2018 revealed that six in ten vets had treated cases of chocolate poisoning over Easter each year.
Raisins and sultanas, found in hot cross buns and simnel cakes, and xylitol (found in sugar-free treats) can also be dangerous for dogs and cats if ingested.
BVA President Justine Shotton said:
“We all look forward to indulging in sweet treats over Easter but it’s important to take precautions to keep curious pets out of trouble. Human foods such as hot cross buns with sultanas or chocolate bunnies are a strict no-no, with chocolate being particularly toxic for dogs, who have a hard time metabolising some of the components and can get very sick from even a small amount.
“As a vet, I've seen many cases of chocolate ingestion over Easter and Christmas, but luckily the vast majority of pets were brought to the practice quickly and we were able to treat the patients successfully.
“Dogs will usually start showing signs of chocolate toxicity within 12 hours, but symptoms can last for up to three days. If you suspect that your pet has eaten chocolate, don’t delay in calling your vet first for advice. Prompt veterinary treatment within the first six hours of eating chocolate can often be critical to a positive outcome. Your vet will want to know how much chocolate your pet has eaten and what type. If possible, keep any labels and wrappers and have the weight of your pet to hand.”
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