Pet owners issued urgent Easter warning amid fears thousands of dogs will get sick this weekend

VETS have issued pet owners with an urgent Easter warning amid fears hundreds of thousands of dogs will become severely poorly this weekend.

Pooches must be kept away from chocolate because it can make them extremely sick.

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Over Christmas, one in five owners had to rush their dog to the vets after they got into sweet stashes.

And over the coming days, half a million dogs may need urgent treatment after snacking accidents, the  reports.

A survey of 3,000 dog owners found that just 67 per cent know to keep chocolate treats away from their dogs.

YuMove vet Dr Jayne Laycock urged the remaining 33 per cent to consider keeping sweets under lock and key.

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She told paper: “For us two-legged pet parents, an Easter egg is one of the best treats around.

"But the sad fact is that chocolate is highly toxic for dogs.

"Chocolate contains lots of sugar, fat and caffeine, none of which are brilliant for your dog’s health in any case.

"But the ingredient that’s actually poisonous for your pooch is theobromine, a bitter alkaloid of the cacao bean.

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"For humans, the combination of caffeine and theobromine raises our spirits and makes us feel more alert.

"It’s one of the reasons why we find chocolate so addictive.

"But while it’s easy for us to digest theobromine, it can make your dog sick, and can even be fatal."

White chocolate has less theobromine than milk.

However, it can still cause serious issues in dogs.

Dr Laycock said dark and baking chocolate are the most toxic of all to pets.

She urged anyone who owns a dog to avoid a traditional Easter egg hunt for kids.

"You can bet your hound will sniff out the chocolate far quicker than your children, which could cause tears all round," she said.

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"If you’re planning one, then keep your pooch locked away until all the Easter treats have been found and there’s absolutely no chance of your dog finding a stray that’s been left behind."

If a dog does accidentally get its paws on chocolate, a vet should be called immediately.