Easter hazards for pets
For those of us that celebrate Easter, we all know what a fun holiday it can be (and an excuse to eat lots of chocolate!) but it can be a dangerous time for our pets.
Written below are some common dangers to be cautious of to try and make Easter a fun and safe time for all.
Chocolate
Chocolate seems like the most obvious one to start with! Chocolate contains a substance called “theobromine”, which is toxic to dogs. It is important to make sure all chocolate is out of reach of dogs. If you think your dog may have eaten chocolate, it’s important to contact us straight away so that the vet can work out if the dose your dog has had is toxic. The vet will be able to advise accordingly, and they may need to come in to the vets to be made sick (as Ink below found out!). As well as containing theobromine, chocolate is also very fatty and can therefore cause upset stomach and subsequent problems.
If you’re planning to do an easter egg hunt, then it is a good idea to count how many eggs you have hidden (and their location) and keep your pet out of the way until all of the eggs have been found.
Hot Cross Buns
These generally contain dried fruits such as raisins, currants and sultanas, all of which are poisonous. Unfortunately, it is still unclear what it is that causes the toxicity but even a small amount can cause our pets to go into severe kidney failure (even if it’s a large dog).
Flowers
Springtime is a lovely time of year, when lots of flowers start to bloom and we often have them in the house more. However, quite a few of these such as lilies, daffodils, tulips and hyacinths are toxic to our pets. It’s important to keep these out of reach of our pets as even just so much as them brushing past and getting the pollen on their fur and then grooming can cause toxicity.
If you’re unsure whether your pet has had or been in contact with something they weren’t meant to, please seek prompt veterinary advice and we will be able to advise accordingly! Our vets are on call 24/7 so you’ll always be able to speak with a familiar member of our own team.
