VETS have issued a warning about keeping chocolate away from pets in the lead up to Christmas after a greedy Boxer needed emergency treatment when she wolfed down nine bars.

Molly had to be rushed to Ashlands Veterinary Centre’s hospital in Ilkley by owners Hilary and John Eveleigh as chocolate is highly toxic to dogs, and the amount she had eaten was potentially fatal.

Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine that is poisonous to dogs, and the darker the chocolate the higher the risk.

Molly sniffed out the treats even though they were wrapped in a cardboard box filled with chocolate bars for a sale at the couple’s local church in Otley. She had ripped open the parcel, chewed up the cardboard, helped herself to nine of the 16 chocolate bars, before falling asleep in her bed.

Her owners took her hospital, where worried vets quickly induced vomiting. Because of the quantity of chocolate she’d eaten, they also pumped her stomach as a precaution and kept her in overnight for monitoring.

With people stocking up on chocolate to be eaten or given away as gift over Christmas, vets are warning dog owners to be extra cautious.

Ashlands Veterinary Centre vet Nikki Holt, who treated Molly, said: “Chocolate poisoning in dogs is quite common and the number of cases were see increases around Christmas.

“The darker the chocolate, the higher the percentage of cocoa content, which is what makes it dangerous to dogs.

“Molly had eaten a highly toxic amount and it was a real worry as it could have been fatal.

“Although she was OK in herself, it had made her hyperactive and her heart rate was dangerously high as a result of eating it, so we had to keep her in overnight to continually monitor her.

“If a dog eats chocolate, our advice is to ring the vets without delay and provide us with information on how much and what kind of chocolate has been eaten.

“Dogs sniff out chocolate even through wrapping paper and get into boxes, so keep everything high up and locked in a cupboard.”

Thanks to Ashlands’ care and expertise, Molly made a full recovery and is now back home with the Eveleigh family.

Mrs Eveleigh, who looks after Molly for their daughter Beth, said: “She is a much-loved family pet so it was very worrying.

“She is a very greedy dog and we can’t leave anything lying about. Owners must be aware that even if chocolate is wrapped up, it can still be a danger.

“We don’t know if she ripped up the cardboard box and discovered the chocolate by chance or if she had managed to sniff it out. The chocolate was in several boxes, bound up by tape so I never dreamed she would be able to get into it.

“Luckily, she is now fine and showing no ill effects.”