Coronation Street fans were distraught by the death of much-loved dog Cerberus in Wednesday night's episode. Viewers of the ITV soap were in tears as Evelyn Plummer agreed to have her trusted greyhound put to sleep after he fell seriously ill.
In Monday night's episode Evelyn took her trusty companion to Roy Cropper's cafe as he cleared up.. She was unaware that as they chatted, Cerberus had wanded behind the counter and it seems he'd eaten an Eccles cake that Roy had dropped while playing a chess game on his mobile phone.
A guilty Roy revealed he'd dropped the cake in the cafe as a devastated Evelyn waited for news of her dog's test results. She told him that if anything happened to Cerberus, she’d never forgive him.
READ MORE:
At the surgery the vet broke the news to Evelyn that Cerberus was suffering from kidney failure and she was in tears by his side as the vet administered the injection. After returning home, Evelyn told Roy that their friendship was over, and he couldn't help blaming himself.
As Tyrone tried to tell him that Cerberus was probably already poorly with his kidneys, Roy said: "My negligence may have exacerbated the process." @PJDavies1962 tweeted "Britain's most wanted!" and @Dandlio19372821 wrote "Roy's a monster" as other viewers asked about the Eccles cake.
@DionPetrie said: "Surely one wee cake wouldn’t kill it" and @realmarkjames20 asked: "Am I right in assuming currants (ie Eccles Cakes) are harmful to dogs?" @fussyMcWhiskers wanted to know: "Would one eccles cake kill a dog?" and @Berniedoll said: "Poor Cerberus, what would be so toxic in an Eccles cake?"
@spartacus2963 explained: "Eccles cakes have raisins, which are toxic to dogs." @DellyWellyC said about the currants in the cake: "They can cause kidney failure along with grapes." And @Mabel_Mouse_ said: "Raisins. Grapes and raisins are poisonous to dogs."
According to the veterinary charity PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals) that grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas are all part of a family of fruit called ‘Vitis vinifera’ that can cause gut and kidney problems in dogs and dogs can become extremely poorly (and sometimes even die) after eating very small amounts of them (especially the dried fruits).
Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants are all potentially poisonous to dogs. If eaten they can cause gut problems and in serious cases, kidney failure. The toxic dose varies from dog to dog, but in some cases, can be very small (i.e. some dogs don’t have to eat much of the fruit to become poorly). Treatment should be given quickly because left untreated grape/raisin/currant/sultana poisoning can cause death.
In Friday's epsiode, with Evelyn branding the cafe a death trap, Roy makes a decison. He tells his niece Nina Lucas that he’s getting rid of his phone as had he not been distracted, he would never have dropped the cake and Cerberus may still be alive.
READ NEXT:
