DOG-OWNERS in Malvern are warned to be on guard after several dogs fell ill from eating promotional chocolate sent through the post.
Sainsbury’s posted free Green & Black’s chocolate bars to its reward card holders in recent days and there have been reports of pooches falling sick after eating the sweet treat before their owners could pick up their post.
Vets have warned that dogs only need to consume a very small amount of chocolate to find themselves in an “emergency situation”.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said the company was “extremely sorry for the distress caused”.
“We know chocolate is unsafe for pets to eat and that’s why we had measures in place to safeguard against pet owners receiving this promotion,” they added.
Chocolate can be toxic for dogs – especially dark chocolate as it contains higher levels of chocolate solids.
Chocolate contains theobromine, a naturally occurring chemical found in cocoa beans. It is fine for humans to eat, but dogs cannot metabolise it and it only takes a very small amount of dark chocolate to pose a big threat for dogs.
According to the British Veterinary Association (BVA), chocolate can be poisonous for any animal but dogs are the most commonly affected pets:
- They usually show signs of poisoning within 12 hours but symptoms can last for up to three days.
- Symptoms include excessive thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea and restlessness.
- They can develop into hyperactivity, tremors, abnormal heart rate, hyperthermia and rapid breathing.
- In the worst cases, dogs can experience fits and in some cases can fall into a coma or die.
- Owners who know their dogs have consumed chocolate are advised to call their vets even if they look well in themselves, as the symptoms may not show up in the first hour or so.
