With Easter weekend fast approaching, a national vet charity is warning pet owners to be extra vigilant during celebrations – where chocolate treats may be a matter of life or death for furry friends.
The reminder comes after vet charity PDSA treated a sweet-toothed Doberman puppy, Ghost, who needed life-saving treatment after polishing off an entire advent calendar.
PDSA Vet Claire Roberts said: “Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which is toxic to most animals, including dogs and cats. Signs a pet may have eaten chocolate can include: vomiting, diarrhoea, drinking excessively, shaking and restlessness. At higher doses, signs can even progress to an abnormal heart rhythm, raised body temperature, rapid breathing and seizures.
Owner Erin, from Croydon, rushed Ghost to the charity’s Croydon PDSA Pet Hospital where he was given life-saving treatment in order to prevent his body from absorbing any remaining toxins.
“Ghost was at home with my sister, when she found her advent calendar had been ripped to pieces and all twenty four chocolates were gone! The foil had been torn up too, so we were worried he’d also eaten that.
“We’re so grateful to PDSA for their help, I don’t know what we would have done without them. Thankfully Ghost is back to his usual self, and we’ll definitely be taking extra precautions this Easter!”
See below for PDSA Vet Claire’s top tips for a pet-safe Easter break:
Prepare for prying paws
“Avoid any chocolate poisoning scares by keeping treats out of reach. A hard-to-reach cupboard or a secure, locked box is the perfect place to store Easter eggs and sweet treats – be mindful of clever cats and daring dogs who may have figured out how to open door handles!
Encourage little ones to care, not share
“Sharing isn’t always caring when it comes to pets, so remind young children not to feed your pets any human treats at dinner parties. Remember to clear the table and floor around messy eaters too – leaving nothing behind for snooping snouts!
Catch chocolate in the post
“If you’re planning to order any sweet treats online, adding a post catcher to your letter box ensures any curious pets can’t get to them before you do. If you’re sending something edible to friends with pets, it’s a good idea to pop a sticker on the box to let them know to keep it well away from their furry friends.
Plan with precision
“We all like to play detective and get stuck into an exciting Easter egg hunt, but make sure your pets don’t get to them before you do. Try to keep cats and dogs inside and away from the action when the eggs are hidden in the garden or house, and make a note of all the hiding places so you can check there are none left over afterwards for your pet to find.”
PDSA is the UK’s largest vet charity providing a vital service for pets across the UK whose owners struggle to afford treatment costs for their sick and injured pets. For many vulnerable pets, PDSA is there to help when there is nowhere else for their owners to turn.
