We all love tucking into a good choccy egg - or 10 - when it comes to Easter, but it's clear our four-legged friends should go nowhere near the stuff.
Now, anyone who's ever been near a dog will know they're incredibly curious little creatures and have a sharp snout that helps them sniff out tasty treats just about anywhere.
However, pet owners should be mindful that not every treat safe for humans is also safe for their pooches.
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And a vet has since issued an urgent warning for pet owners to keep harmful foods away from our animals when celebrating the occasion.
Even if you're the most vigilant of dog mums, sometimes your pup can find and eat some chocolate before you have the chance to stop them.
So, rather than waste time wondering how they managed to get it, or bickering about whose fault it is, you need to act fast to prevent any potential damage to their health.
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Peter Wright, a vet at Natural dog food brand Harringtons, has since shared exactly what you need to do if your doggo gets its paws on the toxic sweet treat.
"An odd chocolate or so is probably not going to do any harm, but a whole box or bar of chocolate can have very serious consequences," Wright says.
"Chocolate contains a stimulant called Theobromine, which is safe for humans but not for our pets. Theobromine is much more concentrated in darker chocolate and, therefore, more dangerous."
If your dog eats enough of it, then they could at risk of chocolate poisoning.
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Chocolate poisoning symptoms usually show in about six to twelve hours after consumption and include:
- hyperactivity
- high heart rate/temperature
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- drinking more than usual
- twitching
- seizures
It’s also important to take note of your dog's weight, as well as the type and amount of chocolate they’ve eaten.
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This will help the vet know how much theobromine your pooch has consumed and what amount of medication they’ll need to counteract it.
If seen within two hours of eating the chocolate, your vet will most likely induce vomiting and give your dog active charcoal orally to reduce the absorption rate of the theobromine.
If it’s been longer than two hours, it’s too late to induce vomiting and instead your dog will have to be treated intravenously with fluids and antiarrhythmic medication.
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Wright continues: "Milder symptoms of chocolate poisoning include vomiting and diarrhoea, but in more severe cases, they can develop seizures, major heart problems and or even die."
If your pet gets into the Easter stash, then Wright recommends contacting your vet for advice 'sooner rather than later' before 'the toxin is absorbed into the body from the stomach'.
"The vet will give a powerful emetic to make them vomit the chocolate back up. If not seen quickly enough, your loyal companion may need to be admitted for more intensive supportive therapy." he continued to say.
The Yorkshire Vet opened up about the 'numerous occasions' when he's had to deal with chocolate poisoning in dogs, explaining: "I have noticed that many of the offending chocolates are still in their wrappers!
"So, make sure to store your sweet treats well out of reach, as wrappers are not a deterrent to your furry friend."
Now, accidents do happens, but it's important to take extra caution around keeping chocolate out of your dog’s reach - especially during Easter where there's usually way more of the stuff around the house than usual.
Taking steps like securing your bins and keeping chocolate stored high up which help reduce the risk of your dog finding it and tucking in.
Have a safe Easter, folks!
Topics: Advice, Life, Dog, Animals, Food and Drink, Easter, Health
Rhiannon Ingle