Vets issue urgent warning to pet owners ahead of Easter weekend - with just a handful of Cadbury’s Mini Eggs enough to be life-threatening for your dog

Just six Cadbury's Mini Eggs or one small chocolate egg could be enough to cause harm to your dog this Easter weekend, vets have warned. 

The UK's leading emergency vets, Vets Now, has revealed that they saw a 95% increase in cases over the Easter weekend, with an 85% increase in chocolate-related cases compared to the previous week. 

With Easter fast approaching, many of us will be looking forward to relaxing over the four-day weekend and indulging in some delicious, chocolatey treats. 

It's estimated that, as a nation, we buy between 80-90m Easter eggs every year.  But whilst the holiday can be a joyful period of celebration with friends and family, it's important for pet owners to remember that as chocolate can be toxic for our dogs and dangerous for cats, it's vital to keep it out of reach.  

Dave Leicester, Head of Telehealth at Vets Now, said:  

"Unfortunately, we see a big rise in chocolate toxicity cases at Easter and it shows owners can never be too careful. 

"Our advice is always to keep chocolate treats well away from your dog. As long as it's treated early and there's been no organ damage, the prognosis for chocolate toxicity is generally good. But we'd like to help pet owners avoid a trip to the emergency room over Easter." 

Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which is poisonous and highly toxic for both dogs and cats.  How toxic depends on the amount of chocolate your pet has consumed and smaller dogs or puppies face a higher risk due to their size. Dark chocolate and high % cocoa chocolate usually poses the highest danger but theobromine can still be found in milk chocolate.  

Cadbury's Mini Eggs may be a popular Easter snack but a family-sized 270g bag is enough to cause toxicity in a medium sized (12-25kg) dog. It could also cause serious problems for small breeds weighing between 5 to 12kg.  

A standard small bag at 80g could be a serious threat for toy breeds or puppies weighing 5kg or less - with as few as 6 mini eggs enough to potentially cause toxicity. 

With the average chocolate Easter eggshell containing between 90 to 200g of milk chocolate, that on its own is enough to cause toxicity in medium-sized dogs and smaller dogs.  A dark chocolate egg poses a much higher risk and even just 90g could be toxic for large dogs weighing 25 kg or more. With small breeds or puppies, that quantity could be life-threatening. 

Dogs are at a higher risk, because they are more likely to eat chocolate, but cats can still suffer from chocolate toxicity, so vets advise that it's avoided in all quantities. 

The first signs of chocolate poisoning to look out for are: 

• Restlessness 

• Vomiting 

• Diarrhoea  

• Excessive thirst 

If untreated, these clinical signs may develop into hyperactivity, tremors, abnormal heart rate, hyperthermia, and rapid breathing. In severe cases, dogs may even experience fits and heartbeat irregularities and some cases can result in coma or death." 

To help concerned pet owners deal with cases of suspected chocolate poisoning, Vets Now has developed an online chocolate toxicity calculator to work out whether your dog has eaten a potentially toxic amount. Simply put in your dog's weight or size, the type of chocolate they ate and an estimation of the amount. 

A good tip is to look for wrappers or foil to guess how much has been consumed. 

Vets Now is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week, with clinics across the UK. 

If you're unsure whether your pet needs veterinary treatment, you can book an online video consultation with Video Vets Now. If you know for certain your pet has eaten something toxic, however, do not delay, call your daytime vet or your local emergency clinic. 

For more helpful pet owner advice and information, or to find your nearest clinic, visit www.vets-now.com.