Easter

For most of us, Easter is a time of “peak” chocolate consumption. Remember to keep your stash of chocolate eggs, bunnies and bilbies secreted well away from your pets. Chocolate can make dogs extremely ill, and can even be lethal. The toxic ingredient in chocolate is theobromine, the effects of which are somewhat similar to caffeine. Dark chocolate and cocoa powder are especially dangerous, though milk chocolate is also hazardous. The body weight of our domestic pets means that remarkably little needs to be eaten to result in toxicity. The signs of poisoning are mainly due to   stimulation of the central nervous system: they include restlessness, tremors, an irregular heart beat, seizures and coma. Panting and vomiting can occur in the early stages, as well as increased thirst and diarrhoea.

It occasionally occurs that despite an owner’s best efforts, they will come home to find their dog happily wagging his tail and  standing over the empty chocolate bar wrapper. If this occurs, it is important to get your pet to a vet hospital as soon as possible.

If we see the animal before the chocolate has been absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract, we can administer a drug to induce vomiting, therefore reducing or eliminating the toxic effects.

It is important to realise that chocolate can also be toxic to your feathered pets – poisoned birds become depressed and regurgitate. In severe cases, convulsions and death can occur.          

So, while you’re enjoying your chocolate hit this Easter, it’s important to remember that while your pooch might love chocolate, chocolate definitely doesn’t love him.

Keep your pets in mind over the Easter break, and you may avoid a tragedy.