It is a well-known fact that dogs should not be fed sweets and chocolates because their digestive system is different from ours.
Owners should be very careful to not leave sweets lying around places their pets can reach. Chocolate is literally considered a slow poison for dogs.
Since chocolate can be tempting for us as well as dogs, they have a stimulant called theobromine that is toxic to canines so we should keep them away from their reach. It can cause liver failure in dogs.
A story from the UK works as a lesson for dog owners who tend to be careless around their dogs.
NY Post
A six-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier had to undergo life-saving surgery after he ate six packages of Christmas chocolate coins and its wrapping foil.
The dog named Hugo ate the Christmas sweets while being alone at home when his owner Amie had gone out shopping. When she returned, she found wrappers scattered around the floor and began to worry her dog had eaten the chocolate.
Hugo seemed fine for a while but the dog soon started to vomit blood and he was rushed to the hospital.
“At first Hugo seemed fine, but I felt sick with worry when he began vomiting blood. He then had a seizure which was terrifying, so I called PDSA immediately,” said Amie.
The Guardian
An X-ray at the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animal revealed the dog’s stomach was full of wrapping foil. He needed surgery, an intravenous fluid drip, and intensive nursing care to aid his recovery said a PDSA nurse, Donna Southwould.
She said that the dog could have died if he had not been taken to the hospital in time.
Amie and nurse Southwould used this as an opportunity to warn and educate dog owners about the dangers of chocolates.
“Foods including chocolate, mince pies, onions, raisins, grapes, some nuts, sage-and-onion stuffing, and Christmas cake can all be harmful and should be kept safely out of paws’ reach,” said Southwould.
Independent
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