During the festive period many households stock up on extra treats, says veterinary surgeon Nicholas Burrell, but many of these can be toxic and potentially fatal for our pets – particularly chocolate.
At Christmas, many households stock up on extra treats and drinks to help them celebrate the festive season, says veterinary surgeon Nicholas Burrell, but it’s important pet owners are aware that many of these can be toxic and potentially fatal for our pets.
Vets see more cases of dangerous poisoning in the run-up to Christmas than at any other time of year, and one of the most common cases is pets that have eaten chocolate.
Why is chocolate poisonous to dogs?
Chocolate should not be fed to dogs because it contains a substance called theobromine that dogs cannot break down. The darker the chocolate, the higher the theobromine content, and even small amounts can cause illness.
What are the symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs?
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning may include vomiting, diarrhoea and increased heart rate, and it can lead to seizures (fits) and heart failure. Darker chocolate carries a greater risk of poisoning and, the smaller the dog, the less they need to eat to be poisoned.
This means it’s important that all forms of chocolate are kept well out of the reach of your dog, including advent calendars, selection boxes, tree decorations and wrapped gifts that you might be thinking of putting under the tree.
What to do if you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate
If you do suspect your pet has wolfed down some chocolate – or indeed anything dangerous – call your veterinary practice straight away and tell them what your dog has had, how much they’ve eaten and how long ago they ate it. They may recommend that you bring your dog in straight away, where treatment usually involves making the pet sick and administering activated charcoal to soak up the toxins. In more serious cases, the pet may need to be put on a fluid drip to support their organs.
Unfortunately, chocolate isn’t the only festive food that carries a health warning for pets and they should also be kept away from mince pies, Christmas cake and Christmas pudding because they contain raisins, currants and sultanas, which can cause kidney failure.
Other festive hazards to keep pets away from this Christmas
• Alcohol – Alcoholic drinks and food containing alcohol have similar side effects to humans and can cause serious liver damage.
• Cooked bones – Turkey, chicken, lamb, beef and pork bones that have been cooked splinter easily and can perforate your dog’s stomach. They are dangerous and should never be fed to a dogs.
• Holly berries – Can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive salivation (drooling) and weakness in dogs.
• Mistletoe – Causes stomach problems and may cause skin irritations.
• Poinsettia – These popular Christmas plants are toxic to cats and can cause vomiting, excessive salivation (drooling), loss of appetite, lethargy and depression. Discover more poisonous plants to cats
• Sugar–free sweets and mints – Xylitol is an artificial sweetener used in sugar-free mints and sweets but can cause vomiting, drowsiness, collapse and fits in dogs.
• Aspirin, paracetamol and Ibuprofen – Boxing Day hangover cures could be fatal if swallowed by your pet.
• Antifreeze – Make sure your cat doesn’t mop up any spills of antifreeze if there’s snow and ice. They like the sweet taste, but it is highly toxic and most often fatal without immediate treatment.
• Batteries – Batteries left on the floor or in toys that an unsupervised dog may chew can cause serious harm.
• Tinsel – Cats may enjoy chasing tinsel or decorations that contain wires, but swallowing them can lead to obstructions in the bowel.
More pet advice
- Why do dogs eat grass?
- Help your pet live longer – and happier – with these 5 expert tips from veterinary surgeon Pete Wedderburn
- How to get rid of fleas on dogs and cats
- How to have a pet-friendly BBQ and garden party
Nicholas Burrell BVetMed MRCVS is clinical director of Abbey Veterinary Group in Derbyshire. His main interests are dentistry and ultrasound and he carries out the majority of scans at the practice. Nick owns four rescue cats and a pony.
Abbey Veterinary Group is a member of the VetPartners Family. VetPartners is a nationwide veterinary group, which includes first opinion practices for large animals, equine and small animals as well as a growing network of referral practices that offer specialist care for small animal and equine patients.
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