There will be many chocolate Easter eggs being shared this weekend with friends and family but did you know that 1.75 ounces of chocolate can be toxic and kill a dog!
It's natural to want to share treats with our pets, but please be warned this really can prove deadly.
One of the key ingredients in chocolate is theobromine which both dogs and cats systems cannot tolerate. High quality dark chocolate is most poisonous, with a small bar able to kill a Yorkie.
Theobromine can cause a range of problems in domestic animals because it triggers the release of adrenaline, which can lead to a greatly accelerated heart rate and an irregular heart beat. Beloved pets can vomit, suffer diarrhoea and excessive urination and become hyperactive. Unfortunately this can also be followed by depression, coma, seizures and death. It makes sense never to share chocolate with our pets, not just at Easter.
However, it's worth highlighting that chocolate is not the only potential health hazard shared at Easter often leading to pancreatitis in family pets.
For example, onions can be toxic, even a little amount! Cooked bones can also cause major problems because they are brittle and the sharp slivers can either lodge in the throat or pierce the stomach lining.
However, risks are not limited to chocolate, Easter lilies are a popular decoration and are deadly to cats who tend to nibble at their petals and leaves. If you suspect a cat has eaten lilies we strongly suggest the cat should be taken straight to the vet, as just a few pollen grains can lead to acute kidney failure.
Symptoms to watch out for include vomiting, frequent urination or ceasing urination altogether. Drooling, lethargy and a loss of appetite are also signs something is wrong.
For dogs, lilies are not generally deadly but can cause gastrointestinal distress.
Many of us spend Easter with friends, children and family who may not have pets or appreciate the hidden dangers of sharing a 'treat'. Please be extra vigilant and share the hidden dangers and respectfully request that no-one shares human foods.
A list of the most dangerous poisons to dogs and cats (per the RSPCA):
Dogs:
- Slug/snail pellets
- Chocolate
- Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs e.g. ibuprofen, naproxen and many others.
- Rodent Poisons
- Grapes, raisins, sultanas, currants
- Vitamin D
Cats:
- Paracetamol
- Lilies (Lilium spp)
- Ethylene glycol –the active ingredient in Antifreeze
- Spot-on flea treatments for dogs – many contain Permethrin; poisonous to cats
- Metaldehyde - in slug/snail baits/pellets
- Home decor materials – e.g. paints, varnishes, preservatives, paint and glass cleaners can contain petroleum distillates
If you are celebrating this weekend, have a wonderful Easter and we send you and your fur babies much love and pet blessings.
Brenda, Noodle, Pebble & Darcey Bussell xo
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