Skyy - Special Case
Skyy is a very special patient of ours and her parents have been extremely committed to her care and treatment. Her story begins not long after having a cruciate ligament surgery repair when she began losing weight. Investigations and finally intestinal biopsies revealed a condition called inflammatory bowel disease. Treatment was initiated but in spite of this Skyy continued to lose a lot of weight in the face of a ferocious appetite. Further tests and even more tests were done with an eventual test called a TLI test for pancreatic insufficiency (where the pancreas does not produce enough enzymes to digest food). This was also normal. Referral to an internal medicine specialist still did not turn up any clues.
Dr Wayne Shipham then began treatment based on a rare “hunch” and “gut feel” that Skyy’s age, appetite, general health and previously diagnosed IBD could have resulted in a very rare side effect where the duct that carries the pancreatic enzymes becomes inflamed and blocked and thus in spite of the pancreas producing enough digestive enzymes, these just cannot make their way into the small intestine. Skyy was started on synthetic pancreatic enzyme capsules and slowly started putting on weight. It took a few months of treatment and vitamin injections but Skyy eventually made her way back to her normal weight. Everyone at Drovers is always excited to see her – she has such an amazing and loveable nature and thanks to amazing owners and the dedication of all our staff to a relentless search for answers and persistence, she is now back to full health.
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Although chocolate may be one of your favourite treats, never feed chocolate to your pet. It is poisonous for them! It contains substances called theobromine and caffeine (methylxanthine alkaloids) which are also contained in coffee, tea and some over-the-counter stimulants.
Chocolate poisoning is most commonly seen in dogs because of their habit to ingest food rapidly and they often have a “sweet tooth”. We see a higher incidence in puppies and young dogs, probably because they tend to ingest large amounts of unusual foods.
Chocolate poisoning can also affect cats, birds, rodents and reptiles however we see these cases much less frequently.
Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning
The toxins in chocolate can affect you pet’s digestive system, nervous system and cardiovascular system.
Digestive system
- Vomiting & diarrhoea (2-4 hours after ingestion)
Nervous System
- Excitation/restlessness (increased body temperature, alertness)
- Muscle rigidity & tremors
- Seizures
Cardiovascular
- Increased respiratory rate
- Increased heart rate
- Reduced blood pressure (hypotension)
- Progresses to cardiac failure leading to weakness, coma and death can occur within 12-36 hours after ingestion.
The toxins are found in the highest concentration in cooking chocolate and dark chocolate, and there are lesser amounts in milk chocolate. There is almost no toxins are found in white chocolate.
Diagnosis
Chocolate poisoning can look similar to many poisonings or other conditions. Serious poisonings such as that caused by strychnine, amphetamines, pesticides, and some rodenticides can cause similar signs.
If you know your pet has eaten chocolate, contact us immediately, especially if your pet is showing any of the symptoms above. If possible, bring any vomit to the clinic as well, since this may aid in rapid identification of the toxic substance. Your veterinarian will need to examine your dog's nervous system and cardiac function carefully. He/she may want to run some blood tests to check for blood sugar levels and rule out other diseases. Since this poisoning progresses rapidly, signs may need to be treated symptomatically until a laboratory diagnosis is confirmed.
Treatment
There is no antidote for chocolate poisoning. Your veterinarian may use drugs to induce vomiting if the chocolate was consumed within the previous 2 - 4 hours or they may even need to administer a general anaesthetic in order to pass a tube into the stomach to wash
Once the chocolate is out activated charcoal treatment may be given to prevent any toxins remaining from being absorbed.
Pets that show more severe symptoms may need more specific medications in order to control the seizures and to prevent heart failure.
The expected course of chocolate poisoning is 12 to 36 hours depending on the dosage and effectiveness of treatment. Prognosis is good if the chocolate is removed within 2 to 4 hours of ingestion. Prognosis is guarded in animals with advanced signs such as seizures and serious heart dysfunction. So, please remember to keep your chocolates, cakes and chocolate-coated goodies safely away from your pets. Stick to healthy treats if you want to reward your special furry or feathered friend.
Have more questions?
Our state-of-the-art facility offers separate consultation rooms for dogs and cats, a fully equipped in-house laboratory, and specialised suites for surgery and dental care. For those tender moments, our uniquely designed Grief.
