Although Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies might taste delicious to us humans, they are, in fact, toxic to dogs, cats and rabbits.
In some circumstances, if our pets have eaten chocolate, it can result in “rare” deaths.
With this in mind, PDSA vet nurse Nina Downing has shared the need-to-knows about important chocolate safety this April bank holiday weekend for pet owners.
Things to Consider Before Adopting a Pet
From the symptoms of chocolate poisoning, how long it takes for signs to show up and what to do if your pet does eat it – take a look at this expert advice.
Why is chocolate bad for pets including dogs?
The PDSA vet nurse revealed: “Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which is perfectly safe for humans, but toxic to our pets.
“The seriousness of chocolate poisoning depends on how much chocolate your pet has eaten; how much your pet weighs and the cocoa content of the chocolate – the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is likely to be for your pet.
“However, even a small amount of milk chocolate can cause serious problems for your pet so even if they haven’t eaten much, it’s always best to contact your vet as soon as you can.”
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How do you know if your pet has chocolate poisoning? See symptoms
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning usually appear in pets within two to four hours, but can take up to 12 hours before they are noticeable. In severe cases, chocolate toxicity can cause:
- Fast breathing or panting
- Shaking, trembling and tremors
- High temperature (fever)
Nina added: “The most severe cases of chocolate poisoning in pets can lead to heart failure, coma and even death.
“Although this is rare this is why it’s really important to keep chocolate safely away from prying paws.
“Especially during festivities like Easter when there’s likely more chocolate than usual in the house – with reports of over 80 million Easter eggs sold in the UK each year.”
This is why you should never feed chocolate to your dogs
How to keep chocolate away from pets including dogs
Nina advised: “With more chocolate in the house during festivities like Easter, it’s really important to make sure it’s kept securely away from pets.
“We’d always recommend keeping chocolate, or any chocolate containing goodies stored away in secure containers, or in cupboards that your pets are unable to sneak in to.
“Curious pets can and will be able to reach things off of tables, kitchen surfaces or shelves, so that’s why we’d say it’s best to keep chocolatey items really secure and put away, to avoid any potential accidents.”
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What to do if your pet has eaten chocolate
Nina explained: “If you know your pet has, or you are concerned your pet may have eaten chocolate, no matter the amount, don’t wait for symptoms to appear as chocolate poisoning can be dangerous.
“Keep the packaging, make a note of how much they have eaten, and call your vet immediately for advice.
“At our Pet Hospitals, a treatment used for chocolate and raisin toxicity sees an average increase in use of over 20% around Easter time each year.
“At the higher end, it can cost PDSA as much as £300 to treat one dog for chocolate poisoning.”
