Avoiding Easter Dangers with Pets

Easter is a time for celebration with the family, and even we are partial to an Easter Egg Hunt or two! But at Easter time, it’s important to plan ahead to avoid any nasty surprises, including consumption of chocolate by our dogs (and other unfavourable food and drinks including sultanas from hot-cross buns, caffeine, alcohol and tobacco) that can have a potentially deadly affect on your dog.

Chocolate contains a chemical compound called theobromide and is toxic to our furry friends. Therefore it is important to keep chocolate out of reach and when planning your Easter Egg Hunt, avoid hiding Easter eggs close to the ground if your dog is on the prowl! Remind your children and guests not to feed the dog any type of chocolate or toxic foods. Better yet? Keep your dog in a separate area while entertaining so there is no chance for a sneaky snack on an Easter egg.

If your dog does manage to eat chocolate or another toxic substance, it is important to stay calm and contact a Vet immediately. There is a window of approximately 15 to 60 minutes after ingestion that a Veterinarian may be able to successfully flush the chocolate from the dog’s stomach.

Symptoms:

If you’re worried that your dog has eaten chocolate, the key symptoms to look out for include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Hyperactivity (restlessness, muscle twitching)
• Lethargy
• Inappetence and excessive thirst

Even if there are no signs and symptoms, if you suspect your furry friend has eaten some chocolate, Pet Express recommends you get in touch with your Vet for a thorough examination as this could save your dog’s life.