'Tis
the season to be vigilant: Risk of
chocolate poisoning in dogs peaks at Christmas
University of
Liverpool
University of
Liverpool researchers are warning of a "significant peak" in the risk
of chocolate poisoning in dogs over the Christmas period as households stock up
on festive treats.
Most people know that
chocolate can be poisonous to dogs but may not know why.
The toxic ingredient is a caffeine-like stimulant called theobromine that can lead to an upset stomach, a racing heartbeat, dehydration, seizures and in the most severe cases death.
The toxic ingredient is a caffeine-like stimulant called theobromine that can lead to an upset stomach, a racing heartbeat, dehydration, seizures and in the most severe cases death.
In a new study
published in the Vet Record, researchers from the University's
Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET) have used electronic
health records from UK veterinary practices to analyse cases of chocolate
ingestion in dogs.
The findings reveal
significant seasonal peaks of chocolate ingestion cases across the year, most
notably at Christmas and to a lesser extent at Easter -- as chocolate becomes
more accessible within the home.
In most cases the
amount of chocolate consumed was quite small, with common festive culprits
including selection boxes, chocolate cake, liqueurs, chocolate Santas and
advent calendars.
Veterinary researcher Dr P-J.M. Noble who led the study commented: "Dogs love a chocolate treat and at Christmas there are plenty about. Sadly dogs can't eat chocolate safely so many of them end up making an unplanned visit to the vet, which can disrupt the celebrations.
"People should
keep festive chocolates away from pets. If chocolate is consumed, owners should
talk to their vet as soon as possible, and ideally be prepared to quantify the
amount and type of chocolate consumed. Information on the chocolate packaging
may help the vet take the best action. While many cases of chocolate-eating are
not at toxic levels, where they are, it is better to see the vet quickly."
The research, which
analysed 386 cases of chocolate ingestion in dogs from 229 UK veterinary
practices between 2013 and 2017, also revealed some differences in the seasonal
pattern of UK cases compared to other countries.
Peaks in similar cases around Valentine's Day and Halloween that have previously been reported in the USA and Germany were not found in the UK, which the researchers suggest could be due to different festival priorities.
Peaks in similar cases around Valentine's Day and Halloween that have previously been reported in the USA and Germany were not found in the UK, which the researchers suggest could be due to different festival priorities.
The study also found
that chocolate ingestion was significantly less common in older dogs and that
no specific breed is more at risk than others.
Dr Noble added:
"Big data is allowing us to perform wide scale studies of issues like
chocolate exposure. This will help us to understand the influence of age,
breed, season and geography on a wide range of different problems."