PDSA issues Christmas chocolate warning to pet owners

During the festive period, UK households stock up on lots of food and most likely have some chocolate hanging around, whether it’s in the form of a big tub or an advent calendar.

In the charity’s 48 animal hospitals, there is a 35% increase in medication used to treat poisoning around Christmas which could be linked to the abundance of dangerous foods in the home such as chocolates and cakes.

It can cost pet owners as much as £300 to treat a dog for chocolate poisoning, but the real risk isn’t the cost, it’s the serious risk to their health.

Why dogs should not eat chocolate

PDSA Veterinary nurse, Shauna Walsh, said: “Christmas is a fun time for many, and often very full of chocolate! We all want to be able to enjoy the festivities without any disaster, so it’s really important for owners of the animals keep the chocolate safely away from curious paws.

“It is no surprise, in the last 15 years, there are more incidents of chocolate poisoning reported in December than any of the other months. Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which is perfectly safe for humans, but toxic for dogs, cats and rabbits.

“The severity of chocolate poisoning depends on how much chocolate your pet has eaten, how big they are, and the cocoa content of the chocolate – the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is to your pet.”

Walsh added: “The most severe cases of chocolate poisoning in pets can lead to heart failure, coma and even death. Although this is rare, this is why it is really important to keep chocolate safely away from prying paws.

“Especially during celebrations like Christmas when there is likely to be more chocolate than usual at home – with an estimated 16 million plus chocolate advent calendars. sold in the UK each year.”

Symptoms of chocolate poisoning to look for

If your pet has eaten chocolate and has been poisoned, symptoms usually appear in two to four hours, but can take up to 12 hours.

In severe cases, toxicity can cause the following symptoms:

• Rapid breathing or panting
• Tremble, tremble and tremble
• High temperature (fever)
• Convulsions
• A fast heart rate
• High blood pressure

It is also important to note that mild symptoms exist, these include:

• Hyperactivity
• Vomit
• Diarrhea
• Signs of abdominal discomfort/pain

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What to do if you think your pet may have eaten chocolate

If you think your pet may have ingested some chocolate, don’t wait for symptoms to appear.

Instead, keep the packaging and call your vet immediately.

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The PDSA warns that thousands of people could suffer a devastating loss because they cannot afford veterinary treatment for their pets.

However, lives can be saved this Christmas by knowing what is dangerous for our pets.