Don't kill your dog with kindness this Easter

It's Easter time, a time of year traditionally associated in many countries and among many people with indulging in chocolate.

The tendency is to treat our dogs as well - and give them titbits, but the RSPCA has sent out an email waning dog owners not to give their pet chocolate this Easter. 

Chocolate poisoning is one of the most commonly reported type of dog poisoning reported to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS).  You can find other types of poisoning here.

Chocolate has a chemical called theobromine.  This chemical is toxic to dogs.  It can cause diarrhoea, convulsions, vomiting, dehydration, hyperactivity, high temperature and blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm and tremors, and even death.  The effects can take hold very quickly, so it's important to know the symptoms and what to do. 

The RSPCA points out that cocoa powder is the most toxic chocolate product, followed by dark and then milk chocolate.

So what should you do if you think your dog has eaten chocolate?

 

The RSPCA advises pet owners to take their animal straight to the vet, if they are worried about what they have eaten.  Its website says (and I quote):

1. Stay calm. Remove dogs from the source of poison.
2. Contact your vet immediately; inform them when, where and how poisoning occurred. If appropriate, take the packaging, plant or substance to the vet. Don’t expose yourself to any harm.
3. Follow your vet’s advice.

It also says do not try to get your dog vomit.  There's more info about what to do here but the over-riding thing is never watch and wait to see what happens.  Get advice straight away.

To treat your dog, stick to canine treats meant for dogs, rather than giving dogs treats meant for people.

 

Online retailer Pet Supermarket raise awareness of the danger of feeding dogs chocolate meant for humans as well and they have a number of alternative chocolate treats you can feed your dog.  (I highly recommend them - we buy our dog's food from them all the time and their service is fantastic.)