By letting their four-legged friends indulge in the occasional chocolate treat, pet owners could be doing more harm than good.
The veterinary charity PDSA is warning pet insurance policyholders that the sweet is poisonous to dogs . Senior veterinary surgeon at PDSA, Sean Wensley explained: “Owners should never feed their pets human chocolate. Not only is it toxic for them, but the high sugar content isn’t good for their waistline or teeth .”
Symptoms of poisoning due to the theobromine in cocoa include vomiting, restlessness, diarrhoea and excessive thirst, which can progress to more serious conditions if left untreated. Mr Wensley suggests that extra playtime with suitable toys is a more appropriate treat than snacks for dogs that have been particularly well behaved.
His comments come after statistics released by PDSA reveal the number of incidents of canine obesity has increased and now affects 35 per cent of animals in the UK.