Eden Vets December Newsletter
Christmas Pet Hazard
Christmas Pet Hazard – Number 1
Our first and most common pet poison is Chocolate. Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromide and some caffeine, both of which pets cannot process effectively. This leads to a build-up in their system, causing symptoms that range from vomiting and restlessness to tremors, seizures, and in severe cases, collapse.
Not all chocolate is equal! The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the higher the theobromine content — and the more dangerous it is.
A small dog or cat only needs to eat a tiny amount of dark chocolate to be at risk, while a larger dog might need more to reach dangerous levels. However, any chocolate ingestion should be taken seriously, as calculations depend on:
- Your pet’s weight
- The type of chocolate
- The amount eaten
- How long ago it was consumed
What to do if your pet has eaten chocolate:
Call us immediately — quick action can make all the difference.
Do not wait for symptoms to appear. We can calculate the toxicity risk and advise whether your pet needs treatment
Keep those selection boxes, advent calendars, and tree chocolates well out of reach this festive season!
Christmas Pet Hazard – Number 2
Raisins, sultanas, currants and grapes — along with anything made from them — are highly dangerous to pets, even in very small amounts.
The exact toxin is still unknown, but grape derivatives can cause sudden and severe kidney failure in dogs and potentially in cats. What makes this hazard especially worrying is that toxicity is unpredictable — some pets become extremely ill from eating just one or two raisins.
Where are these hidden at Christmas?
- Mince pies
- Christmas cake
- Stollen
- Festive snack boxes
- Panettone…and many other seasonal treats!
Important: There is no safe quantity of raisins or grape-based foods for pets. If you think your pet has eaten any grape-containing food Contact us immediately — do not wait. Early treatment dramatically improves the chances of avoiding kidney damage.
Keep those sweet treats stored high, sealed away, and well out of reach this festive season.
Meet a member of the Eden Vets team:
George Higginson BVSc MRCVS
We are thrilled to announce a new member of our first opinion team at Eden, meet vet George.
George graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2024 and worked in a busy mixed practice in rural Wales, before moving to Eden.
He enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine and surgery and the variety it brings but has a particular interest in emergency and critical care, and diagnostic imaging.
Outside of work, George can be found outdoors either exploring in the mountains with his border collie Cody, skiing, rock climbing, or competing in triathlons.
Client Dentistry Evening – Thurs 22nd January 2026 7–9 PM
Emily Philip RVN is thrilled to be hosting a Client Dentistry Evening here at Eden Vets.
We’ll be chatting all things pet dental health — from spotting early signs of dental disease to how you can help keep your furry friend’s mouth clean, healthy, and pain-free at home.
It’ll be an informative (and fun!) evening with plenty of time for questions, tips, and discussions about keeping those tails wagging and teeth sparkling.
Location: Eden Vets, 416 Newcastle Road, Shavington, CW2 5JF
It’s completely FREE, but spaces are limited — book your spot via Eventbrite
Can’t wait to see some of our lovely clients there.
Eden Vets highlight of the month…
We will be running our dental treatment offer again in January and February. Spaces are limited so don’t miss out and book an appointment now.
Take a peek behind the scenes at Eden Vets
Dog Prep Area
Our large prep area really is the centre of the “behind the scenes” of the practice.
If your pet needs an operation, their general anaesthetic would usually be started in this area. We have 3 anaesthetic units here allowing us to anaesthetise several patients at the same time: all monitored by trained veterinary nurses. Your pet will be anaesthetised and prepared for surgery here, before being transferred through to theatre. Initial skin preparation (shaving of fur and sterilising the skin) does not occur in theatre, so that we can keep the theatres as aseptic as possible.
Prep also leads to x-ray, diagnostics (where they may have an ultrasound scan or a scope), CT, the lab and kennels. Situated within prep we also have an oxygen kennel to support critical patients after their surgery, or to support animals with breathing problems.
We have a completely separate Cat Prep area in our new cat suite.
Eden Vets Star Patient of the Month…this month is Merlo
This week’s star patient is the gorgeous Merlo, an 8 year old Cockapoo.
Merlo was seen recently by vet George, for her 6 month health check. Health checks form an important part of preventative healthcare and allow any health concerns to be picked up early. They also give our clients an opportunity to voice any concerns and ask any questions they may have about their furry friends!
During a health check our vets will gain a thorough history around your pet’s appetite, behaviour, activity levels, toileting, and any signs of sickness at home, before completing a ‘nose-to-tail’ clinical examination.
6 month health checks become more important as our pets age, and we may be able to pick up on a wide range of diseases or problems in their early stages including:
- Dental disease
- Heart murmurs
- Lumps and bumps
- Weight changes
Lovely Merlo was found to be fit and healthy and even had time to show George some of her tricks.
Please get in touch if you’d like to arrange a 6 month health check of your pets or if you have any concerns. For those on our Eden Health plan, the 6 month health check is included for cats and dogs!
