Kennel Club release poison guide alerting owners to items that can harm their dogs
Almost 60,000 dogs have been poisoned in the last five years, according to statistics released by the Kennel Club and the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS).
The figures reveal that over 56,000 dogs were poisoned between 2010 and 2014, often as a result of eating common items found around the home and garden. In the same time frame, nearly 500 dogs are reported to have died.
The Kennel Club say that the top five most common causes of poisoning in dogs were human painkillers, rat and mouse killers, chocolate, grapes and raisins, and Xylitol, an ingredient found in chewing gum.
There has also been a marked increase in reported cases of poisoning caused by electronic cigarettes and palm oil - the latter of which has increased by a staggering 850 per cent.
Products that can be harmful to dogs include chocolate, raisins, grapes, onions, painkillers, slug killer, rat killer, spring bulbs and detergents. The effects of these can range from mild stomach upset to death.
In light of the statistics, the Kennel Club has released an advice guide to help reduce the number of dogs who may face sickness or death after ingesting dangerous substances.
Nick Sutton, health information officer at the Kennel Club and former veterinary toxicologist, said: “There are any number of ways a dog can get access to dangerous and potentially lethal substances, whether this is by accident, deliberate feeding, or through owners mistakenly believing that certain products -particularly foods eaten by humans - are fine for a dog to eat. Many seemingly harmless foods, such as blue cheese, raisins, onions and chocolate can be dangerous for a dog and owners need to be aware of these risks in order to protect their much loved pets.
“The Kennel Club’s new guidance includes lots of useful information on poisonous substances and we would urge any dog owner, who fears their much loved pet has eaten something it should not have, contacts a vet immediately, regardless of whether or not the dog is showing clinical signs of poisoning.
“We are particularly keen to raise awareness of this issue given that there is likely to be an abundance of chocolate left in the home after Easter, which can prove lethal if eaten by the family dog.”
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
