A: Dogs like the taste of chocolate and will gobble it up. But it is highly poisonous to both cats and dogs and may result in death. This is because the cocoa in chocolate contains theobromine which dogs and cats are unable to break down quickly. Cats are less prone to poisoning as they can’t taste the sweetness and are less likely to eat chocolate.

Toxicity depends on the type of chocolate, amount consumed and size of the dog.
Cooking chocolate is the most toxic, followed by dark and semi-sweet chocolate, milk chocolate, and then lastly white chocolate. Chocolate cake and chocolate icing are also extremely toxic as they contain cocoa.

Pet owners may assume their dog is unaffected after eating large quantities of chocolate as it can take several hours for symptoms to appear. Death can follow within 24 hours.

Clinical signs:

Initial signs:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Restlessness (hyperactivity)
• Drinking a lot of water
• Urinating a lot

Progressing signs:

• Muscle tremors
• Increase heart rate
• Ataxia (lack of coordinated movements)

End stage signs:

• Seizures
• Death

If you suspect that your dog has eaten chocolate, take him directly to your vet.

Q. Are there other ‘human’ foods that pets shouldn’t eat?

A. Onions, garlic, grapes and raisins are all poisonous to dogs and cats. Other foods to avoid are raw fish, canned tuna and bones (raw and cooked) which may cause choking or lacerations to/blockages of the gastrointestinal tract.

Raw Fish
In its raw state, fish may have high levels of the enzyme thiaminase, which results in a thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency. Cooking destroys this enzyme. Thiamine is essential in the break down of carbohydrates into glucose molecules. Generally cats suffer from thiamine deficiency if raw fish makes up most or all of their diet. Raw fish may also contain tapeworm, which rob your cat of valuable nutrients if not treated.

Signs of thiamine deficiency include:

Initial signs:

• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting

More specific signs initial signs:

• Aggression
• Dilation of the pupils
• Ataxia (lack of coordinated movements)
• Ventroflexion of the neck (can’t lift head up)
• Circling
• Stupor

End stage signs:

• Seizures
• Paralysis
• Coma
• Death

Tuna (raw or canned)
Tuna is low in Vitamin E (an important anti-oxidant) and high in unsaturated fatty acids. Generally cats suffer from a Vitamin E deficiency if tuna makes up most or all of their diet. With low levels of Vitamin E, or high levels of unsaturated fatty acids, oxidation of the unsaturated fatty acids occurs. The unsaturated fatty acid is changed into ceroid (yellow – brown in colour) which is then deposited into fat cells. The ceroid triggers an inflammatory response.

The result is yellow fat disease (steatitis – inflammation of the fat tissue).

Clinical signs:

• Pain
• Loss of appetite
• Hypersensitivity to touch
• Reluctance to move
• Fever
• Greasy, dull coat
• Flaky skin

Onions and garlic
Both cats and dogs lack the enzymes necessary to properly digest onions, which contain sulfoxides and disulfides (thiosulphates). The toxic compound of garlic is similar to that present in onions, but in lesser amounts. Cats are more sensitive than dogs. All parts of the plants are poisonous. A large dose or repeated small amounts of cooked or powdered onion may result in:

Clinical signs:

• Gas
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Painful abdomen
• Red blood cells become fragile and break open, resulting in
  • Lethargy
  • Weakness
  • Severe anaemia
  • Laboured breathing
  • Discoloured urine (red – brown)
• Liver damage
• Death

Other clinical signs:

• Allergic reactions
• Asthmatic attacks

Skin exposure:

• Contact dermatitis

Grapes and raisins
Both contain an unknown toxin, which immediately attacks the kidneys. Raisins are more toxic than grapes, and both dogs and cats are at risk.

Clinical signs as a result damage to the kidneys

Initial signs (6 - 48hours after ingestion):

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Excessive thirst
• Abdominal pain

Acute renal failure (within 72 hours of ingestion):

• No urine at all is produced
• Death

If you suspect that your pet has eaten either grapes or raisins, do not hesitate, take them directly to your vet.

Q: Why should I sterilise my dog?

A: Spaying (removing the ovaries and uterus in females) prevents unwanted pregnancies. In just 6 years, one female and her offspring can produce 67 000 dogs – only a quarter of which will find permanent loving homes. The rest are euthanased.

If that is not enough to make you take your pet straight to vet for sterilization, here are a few more reasons:

• Cost – a pregnant bitch needs extra good quality food; there may be veterinary costs if there are complications during the birth of the puppies; the pups will need tick and flea control, food, deworming and vaccinations.
• Mess – an unsprayed bitch comes on heat about twice a year, during which they will bleed for about 10 days and attract all the intact males in the neighbourhood. These males will do anything to mate with the bitch: fight, dig, destroy fences, howl and bark.
• Illness – spaying eliminates the chances of your dog developing uterine infections, ovarian cancer and transmissible venereal tumours contracted during mating - and greatly reduces the risk of mammary cancer – the most common malignant tumour in dogs.
• Behaviour – Spayed animals generally have more even temperaments and are less aggressive. Aggression is different to protectiveness – your pet will still be protective of your home and family after being spayed.

Neutering (removing the testicles of males) helps prevent:

• Aggression – unneutered males are more aggressive towards other dogs and humans. Neutering makes them more affectionate towards family members and other pets. In puppies neutered at 6 months of age, aggression disappears almost immediately.
• Roaming – a dog’s instinct is to seek out a bitch on heat. This may result in the dog getting lost; getting into fights with other dogs and suffering bite wounds that require veterinary treatment or are severe enough to cause death; or being hit by cars.
• Illness – neutering protects your dog’s health by eliminating testicular cancer and helping to prevent Perianal adenocarcinomas (cancerous anal tumors), Perianal adenomas (benign anal tumors), Prostate problems (enlargement, cysts, abscess and cancer), hernias and transmissible venereal tumours contracted during mating.
• Bad behaviour – neutered dogs behave better and are more relaxed; they are easier to train because they’re not thinking: “I need to find a mate”!
• Marking or spraying - urinating in your home to mark their territory, warn other males away and let females know there is a potential mate available.
• Sexual behaviour – inappropriate approaches towards people or objects.