A 12-week-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy nearly died after sniffing out a forgotten Christmas treat. Owner Claire Haile became concerned when Taran suddenly became unwell and lethargic, but only realised the cause when he vomited an undigested Quality Street sweet. The sweet came from a tub pushed under a desk in her son's room that had been forgotten since the holidays.
Emergency vet visit saves puppy's life
Claire, who had stayed up overnight monitoring Taran, knew chocolate is highly toxic to dogs due to theobromine, which can cause organ failure. She rushed him to Valley Veterinary Hospital, part of VetPartners. Night vet Trisha Mwewa administered medication to induce vomiting and remove any remaining chocolate, followed by activated charcoal to absorb toxins. Taran was monitored for several hours to check his heart rate, as chocolate poisoning can cause dangerous arrhythmias.
Claire said: “I had been worried about Taran when he seemed poorly one evening, so I sat up with him and I couldn’t understand why his vomit was brightly coloured. Then I noticed a chocolate and remembered that the previous day Taran had gone upstairs. The Quality Street tub was in my son’s room, pushed under his desk, and had been forgotten about. When I looked inside the tub it was empty, apart from one solitary wrapper, and I knew I had to get Taran to a vet as soon as possible.”
Vet warns of chocolate dangers to pets
Trisha Mwewa noted that Taran likely ate most of a 550g tub of chocolates, which surprised her given his small size. Even the wrappers posed a danger of intestinal blockage. She said: “When Taran arrived at the hospital, he was very quiet and sad for a puppy but he still managed to wag his tail. Once we were happy that he’d brought up all the chocolate and wrappers, we gave him activated charcoal because it attracts harmful toxins so the body can’t absorb them. He was then kept in the hospital for a few hours so we could monitor his heart rate, because chocolate poisoning can cause dangerously irregular heart rhythms.”
Owner urges vigilance
Claire added: “Luckily, he’s none the worse for the experience but he is a typical Staffy who will eat anything given half a chance, so we’re being extra vigilant and keeping anything out of his way. It was such a frightening experience and I’m so grateful to Trisha and the team at Valley Vets for giving Taran the best possible care. It’s amazing that they are there to help at any time of day or night.”
Trisha Mwewa emphasised that chocolate poisoning is common around holidays like Easter, Valentine's Day, and Christmas, and can be fatal. She urged pet owners to keep chocolate and sweets out of reach, as pets can find hidden treats.
