To think they should take him to the vets

[Huggyhuggy]

My mum and dads dog had a full box of ‘black magic’ dark chocolates yesterday and today has vomiting, wheezing, and is laid down looking very sorry for himself but they won’t take to the vets saying none will be open now

I really hope you can find a way to take the dog, it is critical that he is seen. I am sorry your parents are being appalling about this.

That may of been the case some dogs have a higher "tolerance". I understand finances are tight but just call the vets and explain, no one can go to bed and leave the dog to suffer over night and no vet would either, understand it's a hard situation for you but take charge x

I'm sorry to be blunt, but he's not going to 'sleep it off'. The likelihood is that, without treatment, he'll die.

Show them this thread. Let them see the numbers themselves in the calculators.

If they won't do anything, then you need to contact the emergency vets anyway. Even if you don't drive, taxi firms can still help if you explain the situation.

Don't leave an animal to die in pain like this.

This. Poor dog with selfish arseholes as owners

Aside from the possible unpleasant gastrointestinal effects (vomiting/diarrhoea) which would usually be seen within 12hrs, the dog could also develop longer term effects such as heart problems, kidney failure and/or pancreatitis which is very painful, symptoms usually include vomiting and discomfort (the signs you’ve described, lethargy, unsettled, panting, stretching, clingy/vocal behaviour) and requires treatment and adequate pain relief. As it has been left til now, there will obviously be an out of hours fee to pay aswell as the consultation and necessary treatment, which will be costly. This is why it’s important to sort these things out during opening hours or more to the point, get pets insured! The dog may not die but certainly sounds uncomfortable. I don’t know what to suggest in your circumstances but I hope somebody gets this poor dog seen to sooner rather than later. The longer they leave it, the longer and potentially more costly the treatment. Plus most vets have tiered fees, the more unsociable the hour the more costly so maybe put that to your parents.

That is extremely rare. My vet you have to pay that day. If you say you can't afford it, they just tell you to put it on your credit card

Please do it quickly @Huggyhuggy this is about as serious an emergency as it gets.

Posting something like this is incredibly irresponsible - not to mention totally incorrect.

Theobromine is incredibly toxic to dogs and absolutely does affect the kidneys, as well as the heart and nervous system. Dark chocolate is a medical emergency for dogs, no matter how much they've eaten. This dog is showing signs of toxicity so sadly, it is probably too late for him.

Go on a local fb group, see if anyone will give you a lift to the out of hours vets. See if there is an animal taxi/ambulance that takes dogs to the vet.

Otherwise you are all going to sit around watching this dog potentially die of theobromine poisoning (he is already showing clear symptoms of that) or just about survive, wtih severe liver damage.

This is not a 'hope for the best' situation. This is an animal suffering horrible pain and discomfort who will take days or possibly weeks to die if something is not done asap.

Symptoms of chocolate poisoning usually appear within two to four hours but can take up to 12 hours. In severe cases, toxicity can cause:

• Fast breathing or panting
• Shaking, trembling and tremors
• High temperature (fever)
• Seizures
• A fast heart rate
• High blood pressure

Your dog was already fighting one case of theobromine poisoning - and no, being sick does not instantly re-set the dog to normal and well, it is just a part of the treatment process which, if it doesn't actually remove all the chocolate, will not really help.

It can easily result in liver damage, heart failure, coma and death.

Obviously the dog needs to go to the vets, but you can understand their reticence from a financial point of view. A friend paid £900 at the emergency vet last week to have a cat seen and PTS, no actual treatment just euthernased. I can't begin to imagine the eye watering sum this is going to cost without insurance. I hope the dog is okay.

This.
Irresponsible, criminal and shouldn’t own a dog.
Yes the emergency ooh vet is mega expensive but they gave a responsibility to get their dog treated.. insurance will cover emergency vet if they have it.

Chocolate is poisonous to dogs. Take him if they won’t.

They are going to have a dead dog on their hands if that's the case.

During Covid when we were all baking, my dog ate 3/4 of a pan of cooling chocolate brownies made with cocoa (we caught him - he'd counter surfed - before he could wolf down the last 1/4).

We had him at the vet within 10 minutes (we live a 3 minute drive from one) and they administered an emetic injection, then kept him for several hours to ensure the resultant vomiting had got it out of him well enough. They sent us home with charcoal to put in his food for several days.

THAT is what a dog ingesting more than a tiny amount of chocolate needs.

So they understand the difference that it makes being dark chocolate? Do they realise there is a real risk of death if nothing is done? Are they seriously willing to take that risk?

I hope the poor dog is not suffering and you're able to take some action to help.

Really dangerous darl chocolate is poisonous to dogs. Emergency vet

I just wanted to say you are brave for caring/posting and I understand the difficulties you face in the circumstances.

Try ringing some of the free vet contacts at least.

This makes me so angry!!! Can you drive there and take the poor dog to the vet? I’m sorry but your parents are bloody evil to sit back and do nothing but watch that poor dog suffer.

I'm really sorry to say this OP but if he ate the chocs yesterday, it may be too late now. Our vet told us that the earlier the treatment the much more chance the dog has of survival. I hope you get him seen asap though, poor dog.

How frustrating for you, but the dog sounds very poorly and i hope you can find a Solution and get it to the vets, your parents do not sound empathic to the dogs pain.

How old is the dog?

That's what you take on when you get a pet. That's part of the responsibility.

They may not be able to afford a vet. PDSA only treat where owners have a very low income. But at this time of year, plenty of people are skint.

Yes, I only got here this evening and Im only just finding it out but my mum was saying he was fine this morning and isn’t seeming concerned. I’m trying to arrange transport to get him seen as he is only 2, can’t see him like this

He is now sleeping I’m very worried about him but will sort him being seen.