Vet issues Easter warning to dog owners with 500,000…

Vet issues Easter warning to dog owners with 500,000 pets expected to get sick

Dog owners have been urged to keep their pooches away from the chocolate over the Easter weekend.

A new study has revealed that one in five owners had to rush their pet to the vet after they hit the chocolate stash over the festive period.

And with 12.5 million dogs estimated to be living in the UK, vets could potentially see up to 500,000 dogs over the Easter weekend, the Mirror reports.

A poll of 3,000 dog owners found that 67 per cent try to keep the sweet chocolate treats away from their pets.

Dr Jayne Laycock, a resident vet at YuMove, has urged people in the remaining 33 per cent to consider locking away the chocolates.

And the vet has seen her fair share of Easter-related horror stories during her time.

She told the Mirror: “For us two-legged pet parents, an Easter egg is one of the best treats around. But the sad fact is that chocolate is highly toxic for dogs.

"Chocolate contains lots of sugar, fat and caffeine, none of which are brilliant for your dog’s health in any case. But the ingredient that’s actually poisonous for your pooch is theobromine, a bitter alkaloid of the cacao bean.

"For humans, the combination of caffeine and theobromine raises our spirits and makes us feel more alert. It’s one of the reasons why we find chocolate so addictive.

"But while it’s easy for us to digest theobromine, it can make your dog sick, and can even be fatal."

While white chocolate has less of this toxic substance than milk chocolate, it can still cause issues which could have been easily avoided.

"Milk chocolate is toxic for dogs, and dark and baking chocolate are the worst of all, as they have higher concentrations of theobromine.

"Because chocolate is toxic for dogs, it’s not a good idea to have a traditional Easter egg hunt for your kids in the garden. You can bet your hound will sniff out the chocolate far quicker than your children, which could cause tears all round.

"If you’re planning one, then keep your pooch locked away until all the Easter treats have been found and there’s absolutely no chance of your dog finding a stray that’s been left behind.

"In general, though, prevention is much better than cure. Keep those Easter eggs well out of range of your pooch – and no tit bits.

"My advice if your dog does eat chocolate is to call your vet straight away. Even a little bit which may seem harmless can have an adverse effect on your dog, so it’s better to be safe than sorry."