The majority of the nation gets excited to be eating Easter eggs or chocolate for breakfast, lunch, or dinner or perhaps all three! But we need to be careful and ensure our pets don’t get a hold of any, as chocolate could be dangerous for our animals, especially dogs!
What should you look out for this Easter?
Chocolate
Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which is toxic to our pets. Even small amounts can result in vomiting, diarrhoea, hyperactivity, tremors, seizures (or fits), heart problems or death, in severe cases. So be careful where you keep your chocolate!
Hot cross buns
Hot cross buns contain dried fruit, such as currants, sultanas and raisins – and all of these are toxic to pets. If your pet eats even a small quantity of these dried fruits (and grapes), they could suffer severe kidney failure which may be fatal. Sharing just a little bit with your pet isn’t worth the risk – please keep them away from hot cross buns altogether.
Flowers
Beautiful spring flowers are not so great for our furry friends. Lilies in particular are extremely toxic for cats and should place them in areas where your pet cannot go or opt for an alternative. All parts of a daffodil are toxic. When swallowed, it can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain. Eating the bulb can cause severe irritation of the mouth and stomach upset. These symptoms are usually not life-threatening and resolve within a few hours but it is always recommended to speak to your vet.
What should I do if I think my pet has been affected?
If you think your pet has eaten something they shouldn't, please contact your vet immediately for advice. It is very helpful if you can keep to hand any packaging of what your pet has eaten when you ring so that your vet can check the amounts of certain ingredients. If you would like more advice on what foods and flowers are harmful to pets then speak to us for free on the PetPanion app.
*please do not use our service if your pet is in need of emergency care