Chocolate at Easter
is a popular treat for humans, but it’s also the most common poison to affect dogs.
Nearly 2000 cases were reported last year.
A small dog can die
after eating a single Easter egg. The chemical in chocolate that gives humans a
pleasant buzz, the theobromine, has a highly toxic effect on dogs.
A small chocolate
indulgence that would be an enjoyable treat for us can sadly kill a dog, and
the toxic dose is surprisingly small. Half a small bar of dark chocolate –
around 50g (2 ounces) – is enough to end the life of a little terrier weighing
5kg. Milk chocolate is less dangerous, needing twice as much for the same
effect. And a standard Easter Egg may weigh around 200g meaning that half an
egg can be enough to kill a small dog.
Dogs love eating
chocolate and they don’t have an “off switch” when they are full. They just
keep eating until the chocolate is finished.
Last year Elly’s
dog managed to steal an unopened box of chocolates from the kitchen side when
she was alone in the room. He had to have emergency treatment to empty his
stomach.
Stumpy was lucky Elly was as a vet, she had the drugs available to cause
him to vomit, but what should an owner do in a similar situation?
You need to:
a). Act quickly. If
the chocolate is removed from the stomach within an hour, there’s a good chance
that this will be soon enough to prevent serious ill effects of poisoning.
b). Work out
exactly how much chocolate, and what type of chocolate, your dog has eaten, in
grams. Write this down.
c). If possible weigh
your dog, and write this down too.
d). Phone us and
explain what has happened. If it is after-hours, then call the emergency vet –
their number is on our ansaphone. Listen to the whole message. This is urgent,
and there is no time to waste.
e). We will be able
to advise you whether or not you need to take action: this will be calculated
from the quantity and type of chocolate and the size of the dog. If there is a
risk, the vet may tell you how to attempt to make the dog vomit at home (this
is not always possible) or may recommend that you rush the animal in to see us
at once (the vet can give an injection that immediate induces vomiting).
The most important
message is “Do not delay”. Once the chocolate has been absorbed into the
dog’s bloodstream,
there’s sometimes little that can be done to help.
Poisoning signs start
within six hours of the chocolate being eaten, reaching a peak at around twelve
hours. Classic signs include restlessness, vomiting and diarrhoea, with
tremors, convulsions and heart failure following soon after. Even with
treatment, some dogs survive but many don’t. Sadly dogs die of chocolate
poisoning every year.
This weekend, enjoy
your Easter eggs, but whatever you do, please keep them out of the reach of
your dogs.
