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Why dogs and Easter don’t mix…
(01/04/2003)
Easter is often one of our favourite times of the year. Many of us give
chocolate up for Lent and then gorge ourselves over the Easter weekend!
Research from researchandmarkets.com shows that the UK has the largest
chocolate consumption rate in Europe, holding a 30% share of the total
European market in 2001.
There are an increasing number of articles informing us that chocolate
may actually be good for us as part of a balanced diet. But there is one
part of our family that chocolate is definitely not compatible with… the
family dog.
Simon Wheeler, Marketing Director for Pinnacle Pet Healthcare says, “The
temptation to give in to appealing eyes and a wagging tail can often be
too much for an owner to resist! However giving Max or Molly their own
Easter egg could potentially do much more harm than a one off treat.”
Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine - this is an alkaloid
that dogs cannot metabolise quickly. If a dog ingests a large amount of
chocolate, the theobromine can build up and reach a toxic level of
concentration that in extreme cases can lead to cardiac arrest.
Dr Eric Jackson, veterinary advisor to Pinnacle Pet Healthcare, gives
advice to owners on what too look out for if their dog has ingested
chocolate:
* Vomiting
* Diarrhoea
* Excessive urination
* Quickened heart rate and rapid breathing
If at all concerned, the dog must be taken to the vet immediately as
it’s better to be safe than sorry!
So how can you make Easter a safer time for your dog?
* Keep chocolate well out of reach of your dog
* If your dog must have a treat, buy dog-friendly chocolate
* Any Easter eggs that you hide for an Easter egg hunt should be hidden
in parts of the house or garden that are isolated from your dog – at
least while the hunt is on
* Make sure that any foil wrappers are cleared away – your dog (or cat)
will still be able to smell the chocolate and may well ingest the foil
thinking it is edible. This could result in a swift trip to the vets to
remove the wrapper!
* Always protect yourself with a reliable
pet insurance policy to prepare
for the unexpected – whatever the pet emergency!
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