Jaxon, a family pet, escaped his cage, opened a cupboard, and ate 66 miniature bags of sweets, wrappers, and all, while his owners were out.
The Cane Corso was found by his owners, Ryan Stoker and Chloe Kirchner, sitting among the empty sweet bags, wagging his tail.
After realising the quantity he had consumed, they took him to Prince Bishop Vets in Leadgate, County Durham, for emergency treatment.
The large volume of sweets and wrappers had the potential to cause a life-threatening obstruction and increase the risk of bloat, a condition which is particularly dangerous to large dogs.
Dr Emma Hindson and her team at Prince Bishop Vets examined Jaxon and gave him an injection to induce vomiting to rid his stomach of the sweets and wrappers.
Luckily, Jaxon was unharmed, but the veterinary practice has urged dog owners to heed this as a warning, especially as Easter approaches.
Dr Hindson said: “If you suspect your dog may have eaten something they shouldn't have, it is advisable to contact your vet promptly.
“In most cases, taking appropriate action within the right time frame will prevent the risk of developing more serious symptoms.
“Preventing access to tempting treats they shouldn’t eat is key, so keep the Easter eggs, sweets that contain a toxic substance called xylitol, and hot cross buns, safely out of harm’s way.
“Don’t underestimate some dogs’ determined ability to get to things they shouldn’t.”
He said: “He was left on his own only for half an hour and when I came back we discovered him with opened and ripped bags everywhere.
“He was just standing there wagging his tail looking happy with himself.
“We don’t know how he got out of his cage, but he seemed to know exactly where the sweets were.
“I had a moment of panic as I knew straightaway eating so many sweets and wrappers was dangerous.”
Following the incident, Ryan and Chloe have moved the sweets to a higher cupboard to prevent this from happening again.
With Easter fast approaching, Prince Bishop Vets has issued advice to pet owners to ensure a safe holiday period.
They warn against allowing pets to eat chocolate, Easter eggs, hot cross buns, or Simnel cake as these can all be toxic.
They also urge caution with flowers such as daffodils, tulips, and crocuses, which can be toxic if eaten.
Toys and decorations, often associated with the Easter period, should also be kept out of reach as they can pose a choking hazard.
Owners should refrain from giving pets chicken, turkey or lamb bones, or allowing them access to alcohol.
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Table scraps should also be avoided, as these can lead to vomiting, diarrhoea and increase the risk of pancreatitis, a serious and painful condition.
Finally, they advise that onions and garlic – in any form – should be kept away from pets as they can cause anaemia, vomiting and diarrhoea.
The practice also recommends pet owners make a note of their vet's Easter opening hours and emergency contact information, for peace of mind over the holiday.
