dogs and chocolate

A friend's dog was so so ill after they went to relatives for Christmas and the dog got hold of foiled wrapped chocolate decorations from the tree. I would say to anyone to be careful of this (easy not to think about it if you don't have a pet yourself) and to adhere to the other excellent advice above

Not just dogs! One cat of ours went into the dustbin outside, removed a chicken carcass wrapped in newspaper, and ate every bit of it, with no ill effects at all, I might add!

Not just large dogs. My DD's Jack Russel managed to jump onto the table while we were in another room and scoff half the profiteroles!

Dont panic!!!! Just leave food out of reach of large dogs and make sure Chocolate Xmas decorations are high up on the tree. (Although it is the expensive stuff that is most dangerous and I doubt decorations have any real chocolate in them at all.) (Having said that - my sister's wolfhound used to eat lightbulbs). She survived.

Christmas cake or any fruit cake. A fellow dog walker nearly lost her dog after he scoffed the leftover fruitcake she'd put out for the birds. Massive vets bill too!

I suspect smaller dogs are more at risk (obvious actually, doh!) and Labs seem to have cast iron stomachs. Ours distinguished herself once by jumping the gate and scavenging through the black bags of the entire village on dustbin day. Another time she ate half a very dark chocolate birthday cake (fortunately the candles and candleholders had been removed) and was very very sick everywhere, before having the runs for 3. days. Last greyhound disgraced herself when I left a gift wrapped box of chocolates and bottle of wine for the couple who cleaned for us. I got an embarrassed sounding phone call to thank me for the wine "and was there something else as there was a gift tag to Paula, but not attached to anything" Yes, she had eaten the chocolates, the box, and the wrapping paper.
Just keep the turkey/pudding/nibbles/cake well out of reach! ( And out of reach for labs means about 6 ' off the ground )

As a dog trainer I am always having to tell people that "but I only gave him a little piece of chocolate" is dangerous. Likewise dried fruit, grapes, onions, garlic, flower bulbs,tinsel, and the baubles off the tree. Some dogs seem to love crunching those up. Also ribbon or string off the parcels. Also watch dogs with alcohol if you are leaving glasses around, dogs have been known to be quite poorly from imbibing what they shouldn't. And do watch turkey and chicken bones, cooked bones can be a killer by perforating the gut. Apart from that we just love to have them with us and enjoying the day

Ah fantastic, this is just what I needed - thank you both so much

X post Anya

dogs.about.com/od/dogandpuppyhealth/tp/toxicfood.htm

There's some advice here, Bobbin. DH used to have a Labrador that would scoff anything within reach including stuff that's now on the toxic to dogs list.

Didn't do her any harm although nowadays we would take more care.

Found this link from a Vet

Onions, garlic.

Grapes, raisins.