The danger of chocolate for dogs - on Valentine's day and always

Dogs love sweet treats as much as humans, but it's vitally important to remember that chocolate is poisonous to dogs and could make them very unwell.

Chocolate contains an ingredient called theobromine which is fine for humans, but toxic to dogs as they are unable to break it down in their gut, causing problems for their heart, central nervous system and kidneys.

Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include vomiting (which may include blood), diarrhoea, restlessness and hyperactivity, rapid breathing, muscle tension, incoordination, increased heart rate and seizures. The effects of these symptoms will depend on the dog size and how much chocolate they have eaten.

If you know or suspect your dog has eaten chocolate, please contact your vet as soon as possible for advice as urgent treatment may be required. Try to let the vets know your dog's weight, the type of chocolate they have eaten, and how much they had.