Dogs and CHOCOLATE!

[Ruby Red]

OMGoodness – I had the worst Christmas Eve ever. I only had one dog to walk so I went to pick him up at his usual time. On entering the house I found a ripped up gift bag, tissue paper and a ribbon scattered around the lounge area. My first thoughts were, oh no, there was chocolate in the bag for me! I looked around and couldn’t find a box. Typical, must have been the only day I didn’t carry my mobile so I had to drive back to my house to get the owners work number. She confirmed there were chocolates in the gift bag but there were in a box encased in plastic. She didn’t know what sort they were, just that they were dark fancy French ones [she had a similar box and the weight was 200g]. So I went back to her house to search again – both Graham and I looked everywhere and couldn’t find it, so our next stop was the vets. I explained everything to the vets and the decision was made to give the dog an injection to make him vomit. There was no packaging in the vomit but definitely signs of chocolate and nuts pieces.

Now being Christmas Eve, the local vets were closing at 1pm, and because the dogs' pulse was raised and his heart beat a little erratic, the local vet wanted him referred to the emergency hospital. Graham and I drove out 30 minutes with him to the hospital where they put him straight on a drip and gave him charcoal treatment every 3 hours.

The owner got him from work and searched all over the house and found the chocolate box right under the sofa – he had eaten over half the chocolates – the good news was that they were chocolate coated nuts as opposed to solid chocolate. On contacting the vet hospital and explaining this, they were satisfied that as his stats had returned to normal and that as he had vomited relatively soon after ingesting the chocolate and that as the amount of chocolate [and hence the level of theobromine] wasn’t as high as we all feared, he could go home that night.

I tell you I was so frightened – I love this little dog to bits – I have walked him since he was 4 months and he is now nearly 3 years old. I put this up as a reminder to everyone – keep your chocolates out of their reach. The vet scared the hell out of me when explaining what happens to the dog – here is a link that covers most of what was said and the video shows how much [very little of the plain chocolate] is dangerous to a dog.

http://www.talktothevet.com/ARTICLES...olatetoxic.HTM

I always used to just leave our chocolate on the table towards the back of it, but I guess if Ruby was determined she could probably get at it. Boy, I came home and now all our chocolate is in a plastic box with a tight lid on it and in another room - well away from them. I hope I never have to go through that again!

[daisy'smom]

Yikes! I am glad he is OK.

[Ron]

so scary. Glad the little guy is ok

[KeeperBoy]

how scary!!! I keep the baking chocolate under lock and key. The milk stuff we keep out, but even Boo would need a lot of that to get ill.

Sweet Keepers ate my poinsettia this morning and I spend 20 mins on the phone with doggie poison control. I love the holidays

[Doreen]

Oh my!!!!! Poor thing... both you and the dog!!! I hope the dog is ok now. That must have been so scary!!!!

And Andrea... pointsettias, aren't they poisonous too? That is why I didn't buy real ones. Mine are fake on my mantle.... I don't trust my dogs at all, incase they fell, they would only eat fabric and plastic.

[daisy'smom]

And Andrea... pointsettias, aren't they poisonous too? That is why I didn't buy real ones. Mine are fake on my mantle.... I don't trust my dogs at all, incase they fell, they would only eat fabric and plastic.[/QUOTE]

I just read in the "Bottom Line" magazine that it is not true that pointsettia plants are poisonous It is a commonly held belief that they are but it is not true. They are a safe plant. I like you Doreen have never bought real ones because I was afraid they would hurt my animals.

[KeeperBoy]

They aren't toxic, which I knew and why the plant was on the floor (plus neither dog has ever so much as sniffed a house plant). Well Keepers didn't read the article since he ate 4-5 leaves and was shaking and drooling all over. After I washed his mouth out he was much much better, but he really gave me a good scare with all that shaking.

[AussieGirl]

Oh Stephanie I'm glad he is okay.
LOL at Keepers not reading the article

[purplelori]

Rough holidays for both of you! Glad everyone is ok. All I had to worry about was Wally getting so excited about the company that he peed on his blanket!

Let's try for a very boring New Years!

[Spyglass Sally]

Very informative link, Stephanie. I'm glad it turned out fine for you and really appreciate your passing the info on to us.