Dos and Don’ts for your dog when it’s hot in Northamptonshire

When it’s hot outside in Northamptonshire, it’s essential to take extra precautions to ensure your dog’s safety and wellbeing. Below are some fun and safe activities, as advised by Towcester Vets dog-loving nursing team, you can do with your dog to keep them active and engaged while staying cool.

How hot is too hot for dogs we hear you ask?

Our vets advise

Above 19 degrees Celsius can cause your dog to overheat and become dehydrated
Above 25 degrees Celsius is too hot for dog walks
22 degrees Celsius in a car could reach 47 within the hour

However, some dogs, perhaps if they are overweight, have lots of fur or have health issues, may struggle in lower temperatures.

We also have a helpful guide on what not to do with your dog in the heat – download our infographic and remember to share it with your friends and family.

5 things NOT to do with your dog when it’s hot

7 Dog Activities for Hot Weather

Swimming: If your dog loves the water, swimming is an excellent activity to keep them cool and active. You can take your dog to a dog-friendly beach or pool or set up a (supervised) paddling pool in your garden. We’d love to see photos of your dog enjoying a splash about – go ahead and share them on our Facebook page!
Indoor Playtime: When it’s too hot to play outside, bring the fun indoors. You can set up an obstacle course or play hide and seek with your dog.
Frozen Treats: Make some homemade frozen treats for your dog to enjoy. You can freeze some of their favourite treats or dog-safe fruit in ice cubes or create a DIY dog-friendly ice cream.
Morning/Evening Walks: When planning your dog’s daily walks, our veterinary team recommend opting for early morning and/or evening walks when it’s cooler outside. Dogs won’t die from missing a few walks, but they could easily die from heatstroke…
Interactive Toys: Interactive toys, such as treat-dispensing puzzles, can keep your dog mentally stimulated and engaged while they stay cool inside.
Shade and Rest: Make sure your dog has plenty of shade and access to cool water when they’re outside. Encourage them to rest and take breaks when they need it.
Grooming: Keep your dog’s coat well-groomed to prevent heat retention. Regular brushing can help remove excess fur and keep your dog’s skin healthy. With most dogs loving a good brushing and extra attention from their favourite humans, our nurses suggest that grooming will be a bit hit with your pet!

Remember to always keep an eye on your dog’s behaviour and look out for signs of heat exhaustion, such as excessive panting, drooling, and lethargy. By taking these precautions and engaging in fun and safe activities, you and your dog can enjoy the summer while staying cool and comfortable.

Also, remember to check out Towcester Vets guide on,

5 things NOT to do with your dog when it’s hot

Towcester Vets explains what to do if your cat or dog has vomited

As owners you can sense when your pet is feeling unwell and witnessing them vomit is an unpleasant experience. Seeing their sad face and hunched over posture can be a worry, but how do you know when it’s an indication of something serious?

Vomiting is a common occurrence in cats and dogs, and the good news is that most of the time the sickness will pass over the course of 24 hours without any medical treatment. However, occasionally it can be the start of something more dangerous, depending on the situation.

Our experienced team at Towcester Vets in Northamptonshire have put together a helpful guide on this topic, highlighting some of the common reasons for vomiting, how to care for your pet when they are feeling sick and when you need to contact the vet.

The dangers of everyday items

As veterinary professionals, the first thing we associate with vomiting pets is puppies and kittens. Young animals are the number one culprit for sicky symptoms, and this is because their curious behaviour means they like to chew everything they can get their paws on.

Common items that puppies and kittens chew and sometimes swallow include:

Toys
Socks
Shoes
Sticks
Blankets
String or ribbon
Hairbands
Underwear
Items from the rubbish bin

Luckily, in most cases this activity doesn’t cause damage, but sometimes these ‘foreign bodies’ can aggravate the digestive system, or even cause toxicity or an obstruction. Unsurprisingly, one of the first symptoms of stomach irritation is vomiting, and this happens as the body tries to reject and push out the unfamiliar substance or item.

Common causes of vomiting

Another common reason for your cat or dog vomiting may be that they are eating their food so quickly that they bring it back up undigested. This is regurgitation rather than true vomiting and is often behavioural and most prevalent in puppies. Sometimes cats will regurgitate to bring up hairballs. Neither of these symptoms are serious unless they become frequent; please call our veterinary team if you suspect your pet is regurgitating and we will happily advise you on how best to prevent it.

Vomiting can also be a sign of a serious underlying condition such as kidney disease or pancreatitis, so further investigations may be needed. Other reasons your pet may be vomiting include:

Gastroenteritis
Food allergies
Travel sickness
Worms
A change in diet
A reaction to a medication
An infectious disease
Ingesting something poisonous

When to call the vets if your pet has vomited

Our veterinary team explains that for most one-off cases of vomiting, emergency veterinary treatment is not required, and the symptoms will pass through in a few hours. There are situations that warrant emergency help and can be serious if left untreated. You should call us immediately if your pet experiences any of the following:

Vomiting often and frequently, for example, more than once in 24 hours
Unproductive vomiting – where nothing comes up or frequent retching
Your pet is vomiting and is very young or very old and therefore more vulnerable
Your pet has other serious diagnosed conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease
Your pet has a bloated and/or tender tummy
The vomit is a red/brown colour or contains specks of red, indicating blood
Your female dog is vomiting and is pregnant and/or has vaginal discharge
The vomiting is accompanied by diarrhoea
Your pet is wobbly or unsteady on its feet
Your pet collapses or seizures

It is important to stress that if you think your pet has eaten something poisonous or toxic, even if they have not vomited, do not wait until your pet shows symptoms, call us immediately.

See our emergency care details

How to care for your pet when they are sick

If your pet has been or is about to be sick, they will likely feel nauseous. Signs may include:

Salivating or dribbling
Licking lips
Shying away from food
A hunched posture
Restlessness and pacing around (dogs)
Sitting still with eyes closed or half closed (cats)
Being ‘clingy’ and not wanting to leave your side
Hiding away
Eating grass (dogs)

Here are some tips on how to best care for your pet if you notice these signs:

Ensure they have calm, safe, quiet surroundings so they can rest
Keep warm and comfortable
Offer them small amounts of fresh drinking water but do not force them to eat or drink
Do not walk or exercise them for 24 hours except to go to the toilet
If vomiting has stopped and they seem brighter it is safe to offer them a small amount of bland food such as plain boiled chicken, however it is best to call us first for feeding advice

If you are unsure of what to do if your pet is vomiting and unwell, please call the Towcester Vets team on 01327 350239 and we will advise you on the best course of action.

Towcester Vets gives advice on why dogs get alopecia

Alopecia is the partial or complete lack of hairs in areas where they are normally present. It can be worrying to see your dog losing hair, but the underlying cause can be successfully treated most of the time. Here is our list from our veterinary team displaying common causes of alopecia in dogs.

Ectoparasites – most commonly mange mites, fleas, lice, mosquitos, flies and spider bites
Hair follicle inflammation
Allergic reactions to bites, food or contact with a foreign body
Bacterial or viral skin infections
Anxiety related to self-trauma
Endocrine diseases such as hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism and flank alopecia
Vitamin deficiencies due to an unbalanced diet
Genetic and autoimmune disorders
Environmental (dirty, hot, humid conditions)
Vaccines, chemical exposure or burns

If you are unsure about what could be causing alopecia in your dog, do contact your nearest Towcester Vets clinic.

Get your dog diagnosed – book now

Diagnosis and treatment of alopecia in dogs

To diagnose alopecia in dogs, our vets will try to identify the root of the problem. They do this by gathering a history, observing the site of hair loss, and looking out for a waxy/greasy feel to the skin as well as a yeasty smell. They will then perform one or more diagnostic tests such as a skin scrape, bacterial culture, or blood test to confirm the underlying cause of the alopecia.

Our vets advise that due to the plethora of causes of alopecia, there is a wide variety of treatments. Some treatments include antifungals, antibiotics, medicated shampoos, sprays or ointments, anti-parasiticides, anti-histamines, diet or environment changes and surgical removal.

It’s important that you get a veterinary diagnosis for your dog’s hair loss and follow their treatment advice as not applying the correct products for the cause may not help or could make the condition worse. Get in touch to book an appointment with your vet.

Recovery and management

Once the cause of the alopecia has been identified and the treatment has been administered, your dog will most likely recover successfully. To help maintain your dog’s health, avoid known allergens in the environment if this is the cause and keep them up to date with parasite control and grooming.

If your dog begins to develop alopecia again, do contact our veterinary team to prevent painful development of the symptoms.

Book a vet check to get a diagnosis

Mastitis in ewes and cows: are they the same?

Mastitis in ewes and suckler cows: are they the same?

There are two main types of pathogen that can cause mastitis: contagious and environmental.

Contagious pathogens live on animals so can be controlled using good hygiene and antibiotics.

Environmental pathogens are widespread in the environment so can be much harder to control.

CAUSES:

Mastitis in ewes is normally caused by contagious pathogens. This is mainly Staphylococcus aureus but can involve other bugs such as Mannhaemia haemolytica. These are bacteria that are found normally on udder skin and in lambs’ mouths.
Mastitis in suckler cows can be caused by a much wider variety of pathogens, both contagious and environmental.

ROUTE OF ENTRY:

In sheep, the main route of entry is via the udder when defences are compromised, for example if the teats are damaged.
The same occurs in cattle but bacteria may also enter from the environment due to poor hygiene. Summer mastitis normally affects dry cows or heifers at pasture and is spread by flies.

RISK FACTORS

The biggest risk factor for ewe mastitis is over-suckling due to milk production not meeting demands of lambs. However, orf infection may also damage teats and Maedi-visna virus causes the udder to harden predisposing to severe mastitis.
Cow mastitis is most common in the first three weeks after weaning and first month after calving. There is also a higher risk in older cows. Inadequate nutrition, including poor energy balance, predisposes to mastitis.

TREATMENT

Injectable antibiotics that can penetrate the mammary tissue e.g. amoxicillin (Trymox LA), penicillin (Pen+Strep).
Anti-inflammatories reduce inflammation, and enable antibiotics to penetrate the udder e.g. meloxicam (Animeloxan/Meloxidyl).
DO NOT use intramammary tubes in sheep – these can cause damage as they are not designed for small teats. Intramammary tubes can be used in cattle, although teats must be thoroughly cleaned first to prevent introducing further infection.

PREVENTION:

Good nutrition and ewe body condition score will ensure adequate milk production to prevent over-suckling. Control Orf and Maedi-visna virus in your flock. A vaccine against the main bacterial cause of mastitis in sheep is available (VIMCO), talk to a vet to find out more. Culling out repeat cases is essential.
In cattle prevention depends more on the cause but will involve close attention to hygiene at housing, fly control and pasture management, good nutrition and like in sheep, culling of repeat cases.

Animal Health & Welfare Pathway

The Animal Health and Welfare Review is now open to all eligible keepers and offers an excellent opportunity to understand the disease challenges on your farm and to offer advice and support for your business.

Funding is now available for a vet visit to offer bespoke health and welfare advice and to carry out some testing for key diseases or conditions. For beef and dairy cattle this is BVD antibody testing and for sheep, drench checks post worming.

Initially only Basic Payment scheme members are eligible, and you can currently only register for one species. This will be expanded in the future.

You must register your interest before applying for a review. After applying for the review you have 6 months to carry it out, complete the diagnostic testing and submit your claim. In order to get the most from your review and testing it is important to consider when the best time for BVD testing and worming drench checks is for your herd or flock. You may wish to delay your application so we can carry out BVD testing during the housing period and sheep farmers are likely to get the most from drench checks later in the summer when worm burdens are likely to be higher. Please call us for advice if you are unsure.

For more information and to register your interest please visit the SFI annual health and welfare review pages on the gov.uk website.

Guidance: SFI annual health and welfare review – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Post movement testing from August 2023

Post movement testing in the Edge Area from August 2023

New rules will come into effect on 1^st August 2023 requiring cattle moving from the higher TB incidence areas of England and from Wales into the annual surveillance area of England (which includes Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire) to undergo post movement testing.

This will include cattle moving from the six monthly testing parts of the Edge Area (which includes Warwickshire and Oxfordshire) and includes movements directly farm to farm and those via markets.

This will also apply to cattle returning from shows in these areas unless the show is exempt (cattle are not housed and do not stay on the showground for more than 24 hours). Animals cannot attend further shows unless this testing has been carried out.

Post movement testing will need to be completed 60-120 days after arrival on the holding and must be arranged and paid for by the farmer unless an annual test or other test required by APHA takes place within this window.

For more information, please visit the TB hub website or to discuss this further, please call the surgery.

Why pet insurance is a wise investment

To pet insure or not to pet insure – that is a common question. When thinking about your pet’s health you want to make sure they have the best possible protection in the event of an illness or injury occurring.

The team at Towcester Vets encourage pet owners to be prepared for any life-changing or indeed life-saving treatment their pet might need. Pets become a huge part of the family and when they are unwell or in pain, being able to get them the treatment they need instead of what is affordable at the time can make all the difference.

Read our veterinary team’s advice on why pet insurance is a wise investment.

If you have any further questions or wish to discuss how we can help with insurance claims, do get in touch.

Why is pet insurance a wise investment?

1. You can insure many types of pets

You might think that pet insurance is only for dogs and cats, but you’d be wrong. Our vets advise that you can get insurance for a wide variety of pets including rabbits, reptiles, and other exotic pets.

2. Being prepared can give you peace of mind

Unexpected costs can come as a shock, but having the appropriate pet insurance can help to alleviate some of the stress. You can never guarantee when an injury or illness may happen and so it’s wise to always be prepared, which can give you peace of mind.

3. A wide range of benefits

Some pet insurance providers also offer cover and benefits that go beyond payment for illness and injury. They may offer alternative therapies, wellness benefits, and many other services including support if your pet goes missing. It is wise to shop around!

What is the best type of pet insurance?

When thinking about pet insurance it can be confusing with all the different companies and policies they offer. However, there are a few key points to look out for:

What is the amount of coverage for any illness/injury?
Does it offer third party liability?
Is it lifetime cover or will the cover for an illness end after a certain amount, or time?
Are there any exclusions?
Will there be a co-payment or other change in pricing structure when your pet hits a certain age?
What is the excess?
Does your vet deal directly with the company?

Lifetime cover is typically the most helpful type of pet insurance as it usually offers cover for illness (including ongoing conditions like arthritis) and injury for the rest of a pet’s life, so long as you’re insured with that provider.

How much cover do you need?

When looking at the amount of coverage provided, pet owners need to think about the size of the animal they have and the likely costs that may incur. For example, treatment for larger dogs will quite often incur higher veterinary costs due to them requiring larger amounts of medication. However, this is not the only consideration; if you have a breed that is more likely to have more or ‘expensive to treat’ health conditions, you will also likely need a higher policy amount.

What about previous/exiting conditions?

If your pet has a previous or existing condition, this will need to be disclosed before purchasing a new pet insurance policy and may result in exclusions within the policy – it is a legal requirement that all conditions are disclosed.

Why is third-party liability important?

One other consideration is third-party liability. Whilst you might think of pet insurance only looking after the health of your pet, it is also there in case your pet was to cause injury or damage you would then be covered.

What is a co-payment?

Due to the fact that pets typically need more treatment for illnesses as they get older, some pet insurance companies increase policy prices (or renewal prices) by a higher percentage when pets hit a certain age. Some insurers might also require a ‘co-payment’ – which means that should you need to make a claim, you will pay (usually) a percentage of the costs before they settle the rest.

What about excess?

When looking at the excess amount (the amount you will pay towards the claim cost), you can often understand how changing the excess amount changes the policy monthly or annual price, before you purchase it. You might decide that paying a higher excess amount and lowering the cost of the policy is the best option for you, or vice versa.

The team at Towcester Vets advise pet owners that it is important to remember that a pet insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance provider. It is not a pet health plan and does not cover routine pet health care. Pet insurance is there to provide cover for illnesses and injuries that could occur and therefore you should always make sure you understand the policy benefits, exclusions and terms before making your purchase.

Our team also recommend that pet owners put a lot of consideration into choosing a policy as if you decide you want to change your policy provider down the road, any existing conditions will probably not be covered.

Vet Nurses at Towcester Vets share their go-to puppy care tips

Getting a new puppy is one of the most exciting experiences life has to offer and it is an amazing feeling when you become a pet parent. However, it is common for new owners to underestimate their newfound responsibilities when taking good care of a puppy.

Vet nurses at our [Burcote Road in Towcester] practice are here to help you through your journey, giving advice on socialisation, diet, training, exercise, and visits to the vet.

Check out their list of essential needs below and download our handy Puppy Socialisation Checklist:

Puppy Socialisation Checklist

Everything your new puppy needs

Socialisation

In the first three months of a puppy’s life, they go through what is known as their ‘socialisation period’. This is an important stage because they begin to learn about the environment around them as well as learn what correct behaviour looks like. This will set them in good stead for socialising, having a good temperament around people and other animals, and can even make dog walking more pleasant.

Our nursing team recommend that to begin with, friendly, vaccinated adult dogs are the best companions for your new puppy when they come home with you as they can let off some steam, learn canine social cues, and build confidence around other dogs. If you have a cat in your home, when introducing your puppy, keep them on a lead and allow the cat to have an escape route; it is often very stressful for a cat to have a new, hyperactive puppy in their home.

Our team have put together a handy Puppy Socialisation checklist that covers lots of experiences for your new pet; download it here:

Get our Puppy Socialisation Checklist

Diet

Nutrition is of the upmost importance when you are looking after a new puppy to ensure optimal growth, development of their physical systems, and overall welfare as they get older.

When buying pet food from the supermarket or a company online, make sure to look at the information label. Here you will find what age group the food is designed for, dry matter percentage, and how many calories are in the serving, amongst more detail about protein and other nutrients.

Training and exercise

Training and exercise should be worked into your furry friend’s day-to-day routine, so they get into a habit of exhibiting good behaviour. Training should encourage and support sustainable toileting, sleeping arrangements, them getting used to being alone in the house, and conduct around food, people and other animals.

As for exercise, it is important that puppies go for a walk every day, but there are different lengths of time for different ages and breeds. Not only will this let them expel some energy whilst developing a healthy respiratory and musculoskeletal system, it will also allow them to explore new scents and environments.

Contact us

Vet visits

When you bring your puppy home, you need to know if they are vaccinated, have any gastrointestinal parasites, or if they have a runny nose or cough. If they are vaccinated and free from illness, then they can socialise with other animals.

Puppies will usually be vaccinated and microchipped at 8 weeks old and then vaccinated again at 12 weeks to boost their immunity, but other protocols may be followed depending on the breed. You should also bring your puppy to our practice to get an overall health check and set up a plan for booster vaccinations, parasite control, get advice on nutrition, and to ask any questions about puppy rearing.

Start socialising your new puppy

Overall, the first few months you have with your puppy are crucial for creating a suitable routine and for developing a precious bond to ensure both you and your pet live happy lives together.

Top tips for adopting an older cat in Towcester

Thinking about adopting a cat? There are plenty of them in rescue centres around the Northamptonshire area looking for good homes, and cats are ideal for pet lovers who don’t have the time to devote to the more demanding needs of a dog.

But what do you need to think about when bringing a new addition into your home? Our cat-loving team have put together some top tips below.

Why not share your adoption experiences with our many followers on Facebook?

Share your adoption experiences

Things to consider when adopting a cat

A consideration when adopting a cat may be their age. There are many older cats that often get overlooked in rescue centres because they are not kittens or younger cats. This sadly means they are more likely to spend a longer time in rescue centres. Older cats can be just as loving as younger ones and often come with less challenges in terms of toilet training.

If you are considering adopting a cat, there are many centres that have cats available such as the RSPCA and the Cats Protection League, as well as local pet rescue centres in Northamptonshire.

Behavioural issues

Just like adopting any animal, it is important to be aware of any potential behavioural or medical issues. In case of dementia, look out for:

Disorientation
Anxiety
Irritability
Avoiding social interaction
Increased meowing

Introducing an older cat into your home

The nursing teams at our Towcester, Weedon and Paulerspury sites have lots of experience and advice when it comes to caring for older cats. If after reading this advice you have questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Plan ahead

When introducing a senior or geriatric cat into your home it is important to plan ahead, especially if you have another cat in the household. Introduce them slowly by keeping the new cat restricted to one room at first, and gradually allow them more contact with your current cat.

You can swap bedding, so they learn the smell of each other, but monitor them closely for any signs of stress such as restlessness, or changes in toileting or eating.

Contact our Towcester Vets team for more advice on how to introduce a new cat into your home.

Get in touch

Their environment

When introducing a geriatric cat, you want to ensure the environment suits their needs. You can do this by having soft, low sided beds in areas they can easily access without climbing or jumping. Make sure there are plenty of food/water bowls around, and litter trays with low sides.

Top tip: You should have a litter tray and food/water bowls per cat and on each level of your home to avoid fighting and to aid mobility.

Older cats are less likely to use scratching posts to express their emotions and mark their scent, but horizontal scratching surfaces are likely to do the job just as well!

Health check-ups

With older cats it is important to have regular check-ups to ensure they are healthy. Older cats can suffer with kidney disease and arthritis so monitoring for signs of these is important.

They may also require regular grooming and nail trims, as older cats tend stop grooming themselves regularly and often struggle to shed their nails – these can get long and may grow into pads if not trimmed.

Remember to also keep on top of parasite control!

It’s wise to bring your new cat in for a senior health check – give us a call if you feel this would be useful for your feline friend.

The rewards

All that said, the majority of ‘senior cat issues’ can be easily treated and managed, so it’s still worthwhile considering giving an older cat a loving home. Older cats can be incredibly affectionate and rewarding to adopt and can be a lot of fun too!

Have you opened your home to an older cat? We love to receive your happy cat stories/photos, email us to share yours on our Facebook page.

If you’d like further advice on adopting a cat, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll be happy to chat.

Towcester Vets explain the dangers of chocolate poisoning in pets

Depending on when you’re reading this article, Easter will be just around the corner or a distant memory. Nevertheless, the message from the team at Towcester Vets is still the same:

Keep chocolate Easter eggs, chocolate bars, chocolate cake, cooking chocolate, drinking chocolate, cocoa powder, and anything containing chocolate well out of your pet’s reach!

Even a small amount of chocolate can put your pet’s health in serious danger. Worryingly, we hear of pet owners feeding their dogs chocolate as a treat. Keep reading our article to understand why this is a problem.

Contact us immediately if you suspect your pet has eaten chocolate.

Why is chocolate dangerous to pets?

Chocolate is especially toxic to dogs and cats because it contains the chemical theobromine. Theobromine is found in high concentrations naturally in the Cacao plant, which is chocolate in its pure form. Unlike humans, dogs and cats are very sensitive to theobromine, which causes some nasty symptoms.

If you suspect your pet has eaten chocolate, call us straight away.

Signs of chocolate poisoning in dogs and cats

Firstly, DON’T WAIT FOR SYMPTOMS TO APPEAR – CALL US

If you haven’t seen the incident but notice any of the below symptoms, CALL US.

Signs of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhoea, hyperactivity, hypersalivation, high temperature, increased heart rate, tremors, and seizures.

Download our quick guide and keep it handy:

Signs of chocolate poisoning & what to do

Know the facts:

Signs usually appear after four hours of chocolate ingestion and can worsen if left untreated, and in rare cases can be fatal.
The amount of theobromine in chocolate products does vary depending on the brand and the darkness of the chocolate; dark being stronger than milk, and white chocolate containing very low concentrations, meaning the darker the chocolate the higher the risk to pets. However, eating enough chocolate of any kind can pose a serious risk to life.
Foods containing chocolate such as cakes, biscuits, and doughnuts can also cause harm. Cocoa beans, and cocoa powders contain the highest concentrations and are therefore extremely toxic.
Cocoa shell mulch (used by some gardeners in flowerbeds) contains high levels of theobromine and should be avoided if you have pets.
Even if the chocolate consumption hasn’t caused ‘obvious’ harm this time, the high fat content can lead to pancreatitis – a painful and potentially life-threatening problem with a dog’s pancreas.
Many sugar-free chocolate products contain xylitol – an artificial sweetener – which is also highly toxic to pets, so that’s going to be even more dangerous.
If eaten, wrappers can cause an obstruction that may need surgical intervention.

Keep our number handy in case of emergency: 01327 350239.

What to do if you think your pet has eaten chocolate

The veterinary team at Towcester Vets have unfortunately seen the symptoms and effects of chocolate poisoning in pets many times, mostly in dogs.

If you think your pet has ingested chocolate it is important to:

Stay calm
Remove the chocolate and the wrapper out of harm’s way but don’t throw it away
Write down how much you think was eaten and when
Call our vet practice immediately on 01327 350239
Do not try to make your pet sick (unless instructed to do so by a vet) as this can cause harm and distress

The chocolate packaging and knowing how much was eaten and when will help our vets determine the amount of theobromine that has been ingested.

We will need to know this information when you call us, and we will also ask you for some details about your pet, such as age, size and weight, as these factors can influence how serious the chocolate poisoning is, and the treatment that may be required.

Download our Quick Guide on what to do

At the vets

Once at the vets, you can rest assured that your pet will be fully assessed, and the treatment options discussed with you. In many cases, your pet will be given an injection to make them vomit which will hopefully bring up all the chocolate before it has a chance to fully absorb.

If the concentration of suspected chocolate ingestion is high, your pet may need to be hospitalised for supportive care and medication, such as intravenous fluids and activated charcoal. The positive news is that most patients who receive prompt treatment for chocolate poisoning make a full recovery and so the prognosis is good.

If you think your pet has eaten chocolate, the most important thing to remember is to act quickly to minimise the absorption. Even if you are unsure whether the chocolate was actually eaten by your dog or cat, it is better to be cautious and ring us straight away for advice on 01327 350239.

How to keep your pets safe

Of course, prevention is better than cure, so here are some tips to help keep your pet safe from chocolate poisoning:

Keep all confectionery and sweet treats off countertops and low-level surfaces; store them safely in secure containers out of reach of curious noses.
If having an Easter egg hunt, keep cats and dogs well away from the area and at the end of the hunt ensure all chocolate eggs have been accounted for.
Always be mindful of children (and other house guests) with chocolate as they may not understand the dangers and could accidentally feed their chocolate treats to your pet.
Be vigilant when walking your dog as if there is chocolate on the ground, they will find it!

The last thing you want is a poorly pet at Easter, or any time of the year, so our advice is to make sure you keep anything chocolatey out of paw’s reach so that everyone can relax and enjoy life!

Remember, if you need us, we’re here!

Help other pet owners too by sharing our article, and download and share our quick guide: