In the first of his monthly columns, JOHN ATKINSON, a new vet at Edgemoor Veterinary Practice in Helmsley, gives an insight into the life of a rural vet.

Having spent the last couple of years in Northumberland, Yorkshireman John has returned to God’s Own Country and has received the warmest of welcomes.


’Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for Sam the dog. Instead of being fast asleep waiting for Santa, he was in fact helping himself to the chocolate all beautifully wrapped under the tree.

Sadly for Sam’s owners they were not woken by the hooves of reindeer on their house roof, but by the rather less appealing noise of their dog bringing back the recently consumed confectionery.

Sam’s owners quickly realised what he had been up to during his midnight raid and called their vet who recommended a swift journey to the surgery. Unfortunately for Sam, he was suffering from chocolate poisoning, a potentially very serious problem.

You see chocolate poisoning is one of the most common poisonings we deal with at the vets. The chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine. It is in any kind of chocolate, but is particularly high in dark chocolate because of the high cocoa content. After eating chocolate your dog may drink lots of water, and start with vomiting and diarrhoea. Their heart may start racing and they may even collapse and die. Whilst there is no specific antidote, we can treat the symptoms so it is really important that you contact your vet if you suspect that your dog has eaten chocolate and may be poisoned.

Whilst Sam’s owners spent an agonising Christmas Day worrying about their dog, he was in good hands and in a few days was back home enjoying the non-edible gifts Father Christmas had left for him. His owners are now very careful about what Sam is able to lay his paws on, and the only chocolate he ever gets a sniff at is doggy chocolate.

However, Sam is not alone in getting into trouble at Christmas-time. In the past we have seen dogs ill because they have eaten too much turkey and trimmings, cats that have a taste for tinsel, as well as dogs poisoned by currants and raisins. Christmas is a fabulous time of year, full of fun and joy. All we would ask is that you take a little care in where you hide your presents and how you place your decorations, so that mischievous moggies and careless canines stay out of the vets this Christmas.