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CHOCOLATE TOXICITY

As Easter approaches, we are keen to warn dog owners about the danger chocolate can pose to man’s best friend. Once dogs have tasted chocolate they develop an instant craving for more. However chocolate is harmful because it contains theobromine, a xanthine compound from the same family as caffeine. Theobromine can lead to a toxic reaction which, at worst, could result in death.

The reaction will vary according to the size and general health of the dog and the cocoa solid content of the chocolate eaten. The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains. White chocolate is the safest with only 1mg of theobromine per ounce whereas baking chocolate has a whopping 450mg of theobromine per ounce. Research from the The Dogs Trust has estimated that 50g of plain chocolate would be enough to kill a small dog, such as a Yorkshire Terrier, while an average sized dog, such as a labrador could be killed by about 400g.

Look out for any of the following symptoms: vomit that contains blood, tummy upset or diarrhoea, excessive thirst, excitability, drooling, slow heart rate and in the later stages, epileptic-type fits. If your dog is displaying any of these signs bring him down to us immediately. The good news is that if caught early the symptoms of theobromine poisoning can be treated.

Lungworm in dogs (Killer Slugs!)

A relatively new problem of lungworm spread by snails and slugs has been seen at our practice. Foxes act as the natural carrier of the lungworm, which is then picked up by slugs and snails. If your dog eats an infected slug, snail or licks the slug trails, they may become affected.

The symptoms are variable but usually include bleeding problems. We have seen cases bleeding from the nose, the mouth and into muscles. Diagnosis may be made by taking a faecal sample, to look for larvae. Younger dogs seem to be more commonly affected.

Treatment both when symptoms appear and as a preventative is possible either with a spot on treatment -Advocate, or by an oral worming liquid- Panacur.  See our blog www.veterinary-surgeons.net for further details including a video on the lifecycle.

Lily Poisoning in cats

Many people are not aware that a common plant such as the Lily is extremely poisonous to cats. All parts of the plant, stem, flowers and pollen are poisonous.

If your cat ingests any part of a Lily plant you should seek immediate veterinary attention, as it can cause acute kidney failure.

After a cat has eaten part of a lily plant, signs of stomach upset (vomiting, lack of appetite, or lethargy) may be present. In approximately 2-4 days after ingestion of the plant, signs of kidney failure may begin which can include loss of appetite, depression, vomiting, and occasionally lack of urination. The only good news is that Lillies do not appear to be toxic to dogs or rabbits.

See our article on cat poisons on our blog at www.veterinary-surgeons.net