At Easter, beware chocolate-scoffing dogs

By THE DATA TEAM

EASTER-EGG hunts are a delight for children, a pain for parents to organise—and potentially lethal for the family pooch. The worst a chocolate binge can do for a mischievous four-year-old is a dizzying sugar high. For dogs, however, the theobromine found in cocoa beans can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and seizures. A study of British vet clinics between 2012 and 2017 found a large spike in canine chocolate intoxication in the weeks around Easter. Some 60% of vets reported such a case in 2018. (A similar problem occurs at Christmas.)

Fortunately, all of the poorly pets in the sample recovered from their snack-induced ailments. But owners should beware: a pup with a sweet tooth will stop at nothing to get its fill. The study’s authors report examples of dogs slurping chocolate liqueurs and cups of cocoa. Chocolate oranges and Toblerones are especially popular, with one naughty pooch guzzling six of both. The worst offender managed to consume an entire “garden of Easter eggs hidden for a large party of small children”. Pity the parents who had to clear up.