Onewa Road Veterinary Hospital Ltd
Independent, locally owned and operated veterinary care for the North Shore and Central Auckland.
No, chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats because it contains a natural stimulant called theobromine. Whilst we metabolise it easily, dogs and cats process theobromine very slowly, so it can accumulate in their system, resulting in dangerously high levels that become toxic. The affects can range from having an upset tummy to at the extreme end of killing them, depending on how much chocolate they have eaten and how big your pet is.
If your pet has ingested any amount of chocolate, big or small, you need to seek veterinary attention immediately. This way we can give you the best advice, including if we need to urgently make your pet vomit to help prevent any nasty side effects.
As a rule, the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is. The more chocolate your pet has eaten versus their body weight, the worse it is.
It may take 6-12 hours before your dog or cat show signs of chocolate toxicity.
Low levels can cause:
Medium levels cause cardiac signs, such as:
High levels cause neurologic signs, including:
If you are hiding chocolate eggs for your kids to find, please ensure you count how many you hide and ensure all are found by humans, to prevent pets from having a sneaky unsafe chocolate snack.
Most hot cross buns contain a mixture of dried fruits like sultanas, raisins, and currants which are poisonous to dogs and cats, causing stomach issues and kidney failure.
Dogs especially can become very unwell after eating even small amounts of grapes and similar dried fruits. Symptoms of poisoning can vary between dogs, and include vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, low energy, and reduced appetite. Some dogs are unaffected by the fruits, whereas others develop severe symptoms just a few hours after eating them.
Some hot cross buns may also contain chocolate, so do not feed any hot cross buns to your pets.
Beautiful to look at and delicious to smell, sadly lilies are toxic to pets, especially to cats. Even licking lily pollen off their fur can lead to cats getting kidney failure.
The lily plants of greatest concern are any from the genus Lilium, including Easter lilies, Christmas lilies, tiger lilies, and Asiatic lilies, and from the genus Hemerocallis, including day lilies.
Ideally, if you own cats, do not plant, or have lilies as cut flowers inside. Signs your cat has lily poisoning include drooling/salivation, vomiting, loss of appetite, Increased urination, dehydration, depression, and lethargy.
Enjoy your Easter holidays and remember to keep Easter treats out of reach from your pets. Instead, offer your pet dog treats or cat treats made especially for them.
If you are concerned your pet has ingested any amount of chocolate, hot cross buns, or lilies, please call us immediately.
The above information is provided as an educational guide only and is not a substitute for advice from your pet’s healthcare professionals. If your pet’s symptoms continue, you are concerned about them, or want further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
Royal Canin Rottweiler Puppy for puppies up to 18 months old.
Royal Canin Exigent Savour Sensation for fussy cats from 1 to 7 years that prefer a formula based on its texture and how it feels in their mouth.
Royal Canin Shih Tzu complete dog feed for adult and mature Shih Tzus - Over 10 months old.
For adult Shih Tzus over 10 months of age
Royal Canin Shih Tzu Puppy dry dog food is designed to meet the nutritional needs of purebred Shih Tzus 8 weeks to 10 months old
ROYAL CANIN® Starter Mother and Babydog Mousse is recommended for bitches during gestation and lactation and all breed puppies from weaning - 2 months.
This complete diet is tailored to meet the higher energy needs of non-neutered adult dogs plus includes nutrients to maintain joint and digestive health specifically required by large dogs. It can be fed throughout your dog’s adult life.
Recovery is a complete and balanced diet to support nutritional restoration and convalescence of cats and dogs.
Royal Canin Adult Small Dog is recommended for adult small breed dogs (<10kg) from 10 months to 8 years old.
ROYAL CANIN® ANALLERGENIC IS A SCIENTIFICALLY FORMULATED AND UNIQUE NUTRITIONAL SOLUTION FOR DOGS AND CATS WITH SEVERE DIETARY ALLERGIES.
CARDIAC DRY IS SCIENTIFICALLY FORMULATED TO SUPPORT HEART HEALTH IN DOGS SUFFERING EARLY CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE & HYPERTENSION.
Royal Canin Dental Dog is recommended for adult medium breed dogs (over 10kg and 12 months) and large breed dogs (over 25kg and 15 months for daily oral hygiene, dental plaque and tartar (to limit their development), and associated halitosis.
Royal Canin Dental Small Dog is recommended for small breed (1-10kg) adult dogs.
Diabetic diets are specifically formulated to help in the management of glucomodulation in diabetic dogs.
ROYAL CANIN® Gastrointestinal loaf is a complete dietetic feed for dogs, formulated to help reduce acute intestinal absorptive disorders, and promote nutritional restoration and convalescence. Highly digestible ingredients. Increased level of electrolytes and high concentration of essential nutrients. High energy density.
ROYAL CANIN® GASTROINTESTINAL LOW FAT WET is specifically formulated for adult dogs with gastrointestinal diseases that require fat restriction.
ROYAL CANIN® Gastrointestinal Low Fat dry is a complete dietetic feed for dogs, formulated for the regulation of lipid metabolism in the case of hyperlipidaemia. This feed contains a low level of fat and a high level of essential fatty acids.
ROYAL CANIN® Gastrointestinal Puppy dry is a complete dietetic feed for puppies, formulated to help reduce acute intestinal absorptive disorders, and promote nutritional restoration and convalescence.
Hepatic Canine is a scientifically formulated diet for the nutritional management of liver disease in dogs
ROYAL CANIN® HYPOALLERGENIC IS PRECISELY FORMULATED FOR DOGS AND CATS THAT SUFFER FROM ADVERSE FOOD REACTIONS (AFR).
ROYAL CANIN® HYPOALLERGENIC IS PRECISELY FORMULATED FOR DOGS AND CATS THAT SUFFER FROM ADVERSE FOOD REACTIONS (AFR).
Royal Canin Mature Consult Large Dog is recommended for mature large breed dogs (> 25kg) over 5 years old, ideally after a senior health check
Royal Canin Mature Consult Medium Dog is recommended for mature medium breed dogs (11 to 25kg) over 7 years old, ideally after a senior health check
Royal Canin Mature Consult Small Dog is recommended for mature small breed dogs (≤10kg) over 8 years old, ideally after a senior health check.
Royal Canin Adult Large Dog is recommended for adult large breed dogs (>25kg adult weight & 15 months of age, with a tendency to gain weight.
Royal Canin Adult Small Dog is recommended for adult small breed dogs (<10kg adult weight) after neutering and adult small breed dogs over 6 months with a tendency to gain weight.
Satiety is precisely formulated for safe and effective weight loss and successful long term weight management in dogs.
SATIETY IS PRECISELY FORMULATED FOR SAFE, EFFECTIVE WEIGHT LOSS AND SUPPORTS SUCCESSFUL LONG TERM WEIGHT MANAGEMENT IN DOGS.
Royal Canin Satiety Weight Management Small Dog is precisely formulated for safe and effective weight loss and successful long term weight management in small dogs.
ROYAL CANIN® SENSITIVITY CONTROL IS A SCIENTIFICALLY FORMULATED DIET WITH SELECTED PROTEINS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF FOOD INTOLERANCE, FOOD ALLERGY AND GASTROINTESTINAL SENSITIVITY IN CATS AND DOGS.
ROYAL CANIN® SENSITIVITY CONTROL IS A SCIENTIFICALLY FORMULATED DIET WITH SELECTED PROTEINS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF FOOD INTOLERANCE, FOOD ALLERGY AND GASTROINTESTINAL SENSITIVITY.
Urinary S/O is formulated for the nutritional management of adult dogs with urinary stones (struvites) and to help prevent their recurrence. This is achieved through the diet's urine acidifying properties and its low magnesium levels.
Royal Canin Canine Urinary S/O Wet is formulated for the nutritional management of dogs with lower urinary tract disease.
Royal Canin Dental Feline is recommended for adult cats requiring daily oral hygeine support
ROYAL CANIN® ANALLERGENIC IS A SCIENTIFICALLY FORMULATED AND UNIQUE NUTRITIONAL SOLUTION FOR DOGS AND CATS WITH SEVERE DIETARY ALLERGIES.
Royal Canin Feline Calm is recommended to support adult cats in cases of cats in stressful situations or undergoing behavioural therapy for anxiety and stress-related digestive, skin, and urinary disorders
ROYAL CANIN® Diabetic diets are specifically formulated to help in the management of glucomodulation in diabetic cats.
Diabetic diets are specifically formulated to help in the management of glucomodulation in diabetic cats.
The ROYAL CANIN® Gastrointestinal Feline diet is precisely formulated to support cats with acute and/or chronic gastrointestinal conditions.
The ROYAL CANIN® Gastrointestinal Fibre Response is specially formulated with a blend of soluble and insoluble fibers to aid with intestinal movement for your cat’s GI upsets.
The ROYAL CANIN® GASTROINTESTINAL HAIRBALL diet, is precisely formulated for cats, to help eliminate ingested hair and control hairball formation.
ROYAL CANIN® Gastrointestinal Kitten dry is a complete dietetic feed for kittens, formulated to help reduce acute intestinal absorptive disorders, and promote nutritional restoration and convalescence.
The ROYAL CANIN® Gastrointestinal Feline wet diet is precisely formulated to support cats with acute and/or chronic gastrointestinal conditions.
ROYAL CANIN® HYPOALLERGENIC IS PRECISELY FORMULATED FOR DOGS AND CATS THAT SUFFER FROM ADVERSE FOOD REACTIONS (AFR).
MOBILITY FELINE IS FORMULATED TO SUPPORT JOINT HEALTH AND MOBILITY WITH EPA&DHA AND GREEN LIPPED MUSSEL EXTRACT
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only. It is not intended as medical or health advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional who understands your pet's individual needs.