Cherlene Lee's cavalier cross is called Siao Chu, or "Little Pig" in Mandarin. The name is appropriate; twice he needed emergency veterinary treatment after helping himself to chocolate from the coffee table.

Chocolate is toxic to dogs. Luckily for Siao Chu his owner is a vet and he made a full recovery.

Vet Dr Cherlene Lee and her dogs, (black dog) Obi-Wan-Kenobi and Siao Chuwho has twice needed treatment after eating chocolate. Credit:Peter Rae

But some dogs die after eating chocolate, and vets and animal advocates have issued a warning this Easter about how dangerous the sweet can be.

Dr Lee, the principal veterinarian at My Vet Animal Hospital in Waterloo, sees a spike in the number of dogs that have eaten chocolate around Christmas and Easter as some owners give it as a treat.