Lorraine Kelly has issued a warning to dog owners after her dog Ruby fell seriously ill after eating some of her Christmas chocolates.
The Scottish presenter, 64, told Dr Hilary Jones about the terrifying ordeal during the Wednesday episode of her ITV show Lorraine and admitted it had been "touch and go".
"I had some chocolates wrapped up in a bag as a present. It was in my handbag. [Ruby] managed to get in there in the middle of the night. She ate a whole bit of chocolate and was very, very ill indeed," she said.
Sharing a picture of Ruby looking poorly at the vet, she added: “We had to rush her to an emergency room. They had to put her on a drip.
“It was touch and go and it was really, really frightening.”
In a message to viewers, Kelly warned: “At this time of year you’ve got to be so, so careful. You’ve got to be careful all year-round as well because chocolate’s really bad.”
Thanking Dr Hilary for his support as a friend, she said: “You saw the state I was in.”
Dr Hilary then went on to explain how poisoning in dogs peaks during the festive season.
He said: “Apparently treatment for poisoning in dogs is 75 per cent higher in the festive season than at any other time of year.”
The doctor noted that chocolate contains a chemical, called theobromine, which makes dogs sick.
He added: “Just keep [chocolate] out of the way if you have got guests around.”
He also warned against raisins and sultanas, which can cause kidney failure, as well as alcohol.
And it's not just dogs who need to watch out around the festive season, the white artificial snow on trees can be toxic to cats.
Giving a health update on how Ruby is now, Kelly added: “She is fine now. We were able to take her home yesterday. She didn’t have to stay in overnight.
“Honestly, I was beside myself."
