A poodle who ate a chocolate Easter egg had to be rushed to the vets, with his owners forking out a £1,000 bill to keep their beloved pooch alive.
Buddy, now aged three, fell critically ill after eating half the chocolate treat that is poisonous for dogs and was stowed away for festivities.
He soon started being sick with dark brown vomit and was rushed to a vet.
The pooch was put on a drip and held overnight before making a lucky recovery - though his owners had to foot a £1,000 vet bill to pay for his treatment
The Kennel Club has warned pet owners to keep chocolate and sweets away from animals as Easter weekend approaches.
Bill Lambert, a dog health expert at The Kennel Club, said: "We want to remind all owners to keep an extra careful eye on their four-legged friends.
"Our furry companions can sniff out even the best hidden chocolate eggs and non-canine friendly confectionaries, as these worrying new statistics show."
Vicky Wentworth, of Agria Pet Insurance, added: "Often with more chocolate around, plus school holidays and unusual routines, it can be all too easy for dogs to get hold of Easter eggs and boxes of chocolates.
"Never underestimate just how adept a determined dog can be at getting hold of a treat they like the smell of - we are always surprised by the lengths some dogs go to to get what they want!
"So please keep chocolate, or anything toxic to your pets, far from their reach.
The Mirror reported earlier this month how spring treats may be hugely with adults and children alike, but can have disastrous consequences when consumed by dogs.
It was reported one in five owners had to rush their pet to the vet because they’ve eaten chocolate over the festive period.
And with an estimated 12.5 million dogs living in the UK currently, this means vets could see up to 500,000 poorly pooches over the course of the four-day Easter weekend.
The nationwide poll of 3,000 dog owners revealed 67 per cent always tried to keep chocolate away from their dogs at Easter, because they know that it’s bad for them.
But the poll found a fifth of those admit they feel guilty when they're eating chocolate around their pet and they beg with puppy dog eyes.
