The puppy that got the cream

Chocky (pictured right) is a cheeky, five month old chocolate brown Labrador who, just like any normal five month old puppy is full of life and bounces round the house like Tigger! Like all Labradors, he is always looking for food, whether it’s a biscuit from the worktop or a fish straight out of the sea – as he did on his very first visit to the beach!! Whatever it is, Chocky will find it and eat it.

It was Chocky’s greedy tummy that nearly led to his premature death, when he decided to eat a tube of human skin cream. This probably sounds quite harmless – it wasn’t, it was extremely poisonous. It is important to realise that the active ingredients in most creams are very toxic.

Just hours after eating the cream, Chocky was lying on the floor completely motionless. His owners rushed him along to Grove Lodge, as his condition was deteriorating rapidly.

On arrival, Chocky was examined and the vet established the name of the cream so he could contact the pharmaceutical company and check the ingredients. Having done so, he informed Chocky’s owners that, as the cream was very poisonous, his chances of recovery were poor and that he would need to stay in for intensive treatment and close observation.

Against all odds, after four days of intensive care at Grove Lodge, Chocky was nearly back to his normal, bubbly self!

We all fell in love with cheeky Chocky here at Grove Lodge and are overjoyed he has made such a good recovery. We have posted this story on the blog as a reminder to owners that even the most seemingly innocuous things can be deadly to your pet.

Think of pets like you would a small child – keep all medicines, cleaning fluids, bathroom products and foods locked away, out of reach. Also, some plants can be very poisonous to pets, so always check before you bring houseplants into your home or put new plants in the garden.

Thank you to Chocky’s family for allowing us to share his story - he’s a lucky pup!