Chocolate Warning!

Last Halloween, my first, was memorable not only because I wore my costume to the care center and gave out truffles and sugar free See's candy to my patients and therapists, but also because of what I did later that night!  You see, there were 6 truffles and 8 pieces of sugar free chocolate remaining in my mom's zipped purse which was left on the dining room chair.  Being the smart dog that I am, I knew excatly what was in there and I WANTED  that chocolate - all of it - even the sugar free, which we found out later is even more dangerous for dogs than regular chocolate.

So, I waited until my pet parents were asleep; I got out of bed and went to work!  I dragged the purse from the chair into the hallway by the front door.  I figured no one could hear me there if I made noise.  I worked very hard at unzipping the purse, unwrapping the chocolate and eating every last piece!  Then, I carefully and silently, returned to bed. I sleep with my pet parents! 

Little did I know that I would be very sick in a few hours, and you just can't be sick quietly!  So, I was caught.  I wasn't scolded, but I could tell there was disappointment in my mom's face and fear as she quickly called the emergency vet  in Scottsdale.  Then there was a call to the poison control, and I was rushed to the emergency clinic where they gave me an IV (ouch!) and different treatments monitoring my vitals, as they called it, every 30 minutes for next 24 hours all because I ate chocolate!  It was yummy going down but not so yummy coming up and out.  Plus, I was cold, my temperature dropped and I was scared!!!!

So, my advice for today - pet parents - do not leave any candy, especially chocolate, within a sniff of your pet.  We do not know it is harmful to us.  And guess what, even if we do eat it, get sick and have to go to the vet, we will do it again.  I know because I had two such trips ( Halloween and Valentine's Day)

PS - My mom said to tell all of you that it was very expensive, too.