My dog nearly died after eating a tiny bit of everyday food - now I need to warn others
When Lauren brought home some treats back from a trip for her boyfriend and his family, she never could have dreamed that the sweet present could have an accidental disastrous effect. But, when her boyfriend’s little dog Bee found the chocolate gift in Lauren's bag one day, an emergency unfolded before the family’s eyes.
She tells OK!: “I'd travelled back from Germany and brought the chocolate back for my boyfriend, his family and my family. It was completely wrapped up in plastic and also wrapped with tissue paper so I could gift it.” But, one unexpected error led the gift into the wrong hands, while Lauren and her boyfriend were out of the house and his parents were watching the dog. “I accidentally left my bag unzipped, and she had gone in and ripped it all open," she said.
The young maltipoo had a terrible reaction to ingesting the choc, a 100g bar of milk chocolate with red wine in it, throwing up and swaying when she walked. “We only found half of the wrapper, so we were desperately trying to find the other half just in case she'd hidden it,” reveals the social media editor, who found the wrapper in Bee's dog bed afterwards, “I think she ate the whole bar, though.”
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Naturally, Lauren was distraught: “I felt absolutely awful. I've never owned my own dog before - I knew they weren't allowed to eat chocolate but I didn't realise the severity. I’ve never had to research or be careful of where I’m putting chocolate,” She adds, of her partner’s pooch: “I was really worried the worst case scenario would happen.”
Eventually, the dog was vomiting so much that the family took her to the vet, where she had to stay overnight for treatment.
“I'm extremely careful and mindful now. Even if you don't think your dog would eat it, you can't be sure,” warns Lauren, who explains that even for their dog, going into her bag was out of character, ”The family have never had to tell her to stop eating something or to stop scrounging, or to stop going through someone's bag, so it was a shock to everyone that she did that.”
She adds: “Always be so mindful, you never know how bad the reaction could be.”
On her experience with treating the dog, she advises: “Always take them to the vet if you're worried, they know what they're doing and it might help put your mind at rest if you've left your dog in their hands. Try to find out how much chocolate the dog has eaten so you can give the vet all the relevant info.”
George Bramble, founder of BecoPets and with over 10 years in the pet industry, offered his insights on the matter: "I meet many new and experienced dog owners who aren't always aware of the everyday foods that can be harmful to their pets.
"Chocolate is a common one, along with foods like grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, and avocados. Many people don’t realise just how toxic these can be, especially for smaller breeds.
"A good rule of thumb for new dog owners is to always store food items well out of your pet's reach and double-check that bags or containers are securely closed.
"Consider childproof locks on cupboards or even having dedicated spaces for treats that are off-limits to your dog. Prevention is key, because accidents can happen quickly, and dogs are often more curious than we expect."
Thankfully, Bee is healthy now, with no long term effects from the chocolate poisoning. Lauren says: “She came home the following day and she looked like herself again. She's only a small dog, so it was very worrying.”
With chocolate treats aplenty around, especially at Halloween time, it’s important for dog owners to be extra vigilant about what their dogs might find around the house.
The problem comes because of a chemical called theobromine, found in chocolate, and which dogs can’t metabolise in the same way humans can - and can even be fatal.
Dog experts at Kennel Store explain: “The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the greater danger it poses to your dog... If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate, you need to contact your vet immediately.
"Take note of what your dog has eaten and note down the type of chocolate, how much your dog has eaten and when they ate it. Do not try to make your dog vomit as this can cause more harm.”
