Easter is typically a time where lots of tasty treats are left lying around the house. But a national vet charity has now warned pet owners to be extra cautious and keep an eye on your pets after a terrier nearly lost her life.
The sweet-toothed dog needed emergency treatment after devouring a chocolate Easter brownie. Bunty, a cheeky six-year-old Lakeland Terrier, managed to get her paws on the entire chocolate brownie and it quickly turned into a disaster.
What started out as a sneaky treat turned into a sickly nightmare after Bunty was taken to the emergency vet. Luckily, PDSA vets were on hand to provide emergency treatment and the veterinary charity now wants to highlight Bunty’s story to warn all pet owners to take precaution in the run up to Easter celebrations.
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Bunty’s owner, Ela Gardner, 63, said: “I’d popped out to the shops that day and thought I’d treat myself to a brownie from our local bakery. I’d left it in my bag on my desk and went into another room for no more than a few minutes – but was horrified when I came back in to find an empty plastic bag and a trail of crumbs.
“I immediately started to panic as I know chocolate is poisonous to dogs. I’m very mindful about leaving food around and I didn’t think Bunty would manage to get the brownie from the bottom of my bag, which I thought I’d left well out of reach.”
Ela quickly called her local PDSA Pet Hospital in Oldbury. They advised she should bring Bunty in for emergency treatment as soon as possible.
“My neighbour drove us there and I was watching over Bunty the whole time, keeping a close eye on her symptoms. Fortunately, the PDSA veterinary team saw us straight away, but I was terrified because I had no idea how much cocoa was in the brownie, or how much it takes to severely poison a dog her size.”
Bunty was given immediate treatment to safely make her sick, followed by medication to prevent her body from absorbing any remaining toxins.
PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing said: “Bunty’s case was could have been a close call, but thankfully, her owner swiftly contacted PDSA and she was brought into our Oldbury Pet Hospital straight away. Chocolate poisoning can be life-threatening, and sadly, not all pet owners are aware of the risk.
"The amount of chocolate Bunty had eaten was dangerous for a smaller dog – consuming high levels of theobromine, the chemical within chocolate, can have fatal consequences, so it was vital that she received urgent treatment. She was lucky she didn’t suffer further damage, and it’s a great relief to see her on the mend.”
For more expert PDSA advice on what to do if your dog has eaten something harmful visit pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/symptoms/my-dog-has-eaten-something-harmful.
