Dogs Trust launches 'Chocs Away' awareness drive
The Dogs Trust has launched an awareness drive to prevent pet owners feeding their dogs chocolate intended for human consumption over Easter. In light of the increased availability of chocolate during the Easter period, vets are reminded to be alert for symptoms of vomiting (containing blood), a sore abdomen, excessive thirst, excitability, drooling, rapid heart rate and, in severe cases, epileptic-type fits.
Clairfying the dangers involved to canine health, Dogs Trust Veterinary Director Paula Boyden said “Chocolate contains theobromine, which, although tolerated by humans, is extremely toxic to man’s best friend. The darker the chocolate, the greater the amount of theobromine. Toxic doses vary according to the size of dog and cocoa solid content of the chocolate. As a rough guide, Dogs Trust estimates that 50g of plain chocolate could be enough to kill a small dog, such as a Yorkshire Terrier, while just 400g could be enough to kill an average size dog.”
A survey conducted by the Dogs Trust found that 57% of pet dogs had eaten chocolate intended for humans and that 10% of those that did so subsequently became ill. Of this sample, nearly a quarter required urgent veterinary treatment and nearly 8% died. The same survey found that 39% of the dogs that ate chocolate did so after being given it by their owners and 61% found it themselves as a result of improper storage.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
