Published on March 19, 2008 at 7:23 PM
Experts are warning pet owners not to give their dogs or cats chocolate over the Easter period.
They warn that even a small 50g piece of chocolate can be a killer for a dog or cat.
Chocolate contains chemicals, such as caffeine and theobromine to which dogs are particularly sensitive.
Director of Veterinary Services for the RSPCA, Dr. Ann Covill says most pets are part of the family and it is normal to want to share a treat with the family pet; however one of key ingredients of chocolate, theobromine, is not well tolerated by cats and dogs.
Dr. Covill says domestic pets that eat theobromine can experience vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive urination and become hyperactive and can also develop an accelerated and irregular heart beat which can lead to a coma, seizures or death.
Dr. Covill says off limits too for cats and dogs are onion, cooked bones or fatty foods.
The RSPCA says the number of pets which died or fell sick each year after eating human food, is more of a problem around Easter and Christmas.
Experts say in humans, theobromine encourages the release of the euphoria hormone, serotonin but in dogs even low doses trigger vomiting, nausea, increased urination or diarrhoea.