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Death by chocolate: More dogs at risk this Christmas, warn vets
Last updated at 01:22am on 11.12.07A record number of dogs could be killed this year by their owners feeding them chocolate, vets warned yesterday.
Many pet owners do not realise that chocolate is highly toxic to dogs.
But it contains theobromine, a naturally occurring stimulant found in the cocoa bean, which affects the central nervous system as well as the heart muscle.
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Many pet owners do not realise chocolate is highly toxic to dogs
Last year vets around the country-made 790 emergency calls about chocolate poisoning to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service.
This year the number has already risen to 844.
Christmas is a peak time for potential poisonings because dogs steal chocolate ornaments from the tree, wolf down boxes of the treats or are fed by unsuspecting owners.
Humans, and cats, have the metabolism to cope with theobromine but dogs' digestive systems-cannot.
Symptoms include hyperactivity, agitation, breathlessness, vomiting, diarrhoea and increased urination.
The danger to the dog depends on its size and the type of chocolate.
Darker and more expensive chocolate contains higher levels of theobromine - the lethal dosage is between 250 and 500 milligrammes per kilogramme of body weight.
Serious non-fatal poisonings have, however, been reported in dogs after eating smaller amounts.
Katy Horton, a vet from Barnes in South-West London, said: "Pet owners often forget the hazardous aspects of the festive season.
"Dangers include chocolate decorations and edible presents wrapped under the tree.
"Avoid overfeeding your pet at Christmas, especially Christmas day leftovers; it is detrimental to their digestive system.
"In the past we've treated pets for chocolate poisoning; there are always more cases of this over Christmas and Easter.
"If you know your dog has eaten chocolates don't wait for the symptoms to develop. Take them to the vet immediately."
Allan Burns, head of Tesco Pet Insurance, said: "Avoid unnecessary expense and stress over Christmas by staying away from the vets; make sure you take special precautions with keeping chocolate away from your pets.
"Every year around Christmas time, Tesco pet insurance customers claim for treatments for their dogs, overdosed on chocolate."
Deaths due to theobromine have also been documented in horses.
Reader views (7)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
We need all to be careful when it comes to having chocolate around dogs especially during holiday times. It is more accessible and our dogs can ingest more easily because it’s so frequently available to them.
- Michele Krupinski, USA
"Humans, and cats, have the metabolism to cope with theobromine but dogs' digestive systems-cannot. Symptoms include hyperactivity, agitation, breathlessness, vomiting, diarrhoea and increased urination. "
Just one example of the immeasurable number of differences between species that make 'animal testing' a complete nonsense... and dangerous for humans.
- Cassie, london
It's shocking how many owners are oblivious to these warnings. One of my dogs has pinched chocolate before so we tried her on specifically designed dog chocolate, which she refused.
Chocolate is bad for us, we know this, but people don’t seem to care for the fact that it is not only bad for dogs, but it can kill them!
- Lucy, Essex
The only thing that I would point out is that most people who think they are eating chocolate are not. Most bars are nothing more than dried milk and sugar with very little coca. Is it the coca that is killing the dogs or the sugar?
- Kara Tyson, Mobile, AL USA
Have we all gone mad - how many dogs die each year from eating chocolate for goodness sake!
- Pat, Sussex
I totally agree Michele, keep your pets away from Chocolate. I have had to explain to all the children that my lovely dog has come into contact with not to feed her chocolate and most parents are shocked when I explain that it is toxic to her (and some of them were dog owners themselves). Ignorance seems to be the underlining thing here - dogs are dogs and will eat whatever they come into contact with but it is the owner's ignorance that kills them.
- Sam Evans, London
I totally agree with your article, chocolate is deadly to dogs, keep them away from it at all costs.
- Michele Krupinski, USA
