Families and friends gathering for Easter, there is bound to be plenty of food and drink around. To ensure your Easter is safe for everyone, including your furry friend, Tom Sadler, founder of pet accessories shop Fur King, has revealed treats that could poison your dog.
Chocolate could poison your dog
Tom reveals that chocolate is one of the most common Easter treats that could poison your dog. In 2021/22, 76% of vets saw cases of chocolate poisoning. The issue comes from theobromine, a chemical found in cocoa that dogs can’t metabolise effectively. Even a small amount can lead to vomiting, diarrhoea, hyperactivity, tremors, irregular heartbeat, seizures, and in severe cases, death. Easter egg hunts pose a serious risk for dogs, with hidden chocolates being placed around the garden. If all the eggs aren’t found, you’re effectively leaving poison out for your dog, which can end up being fatal in some cases. If you are planning an Easter egg hunt, it’s worth being overly cautious and taking note of exactly where you’ve placed each chocolate so you can make sure they’ve all been collected. Don’t allow your dog into the garden at the same time, and only when it’s safe to do so and all chocolate has been found.
Cooked bones
While it might be tempting to give your dog the leftover bones from any lamb or other meat being cooked as a treat, cooked bones are extremely dangerous. Cooking causes bones to become brittle, making them prone to splintering when chewed. These sharp fragments can puncture the mouth, throat, or intestines, leading to internal bleeding, choking, or blockages that often require emergency surgery.
Hot cross buns
We may love enjoying a hot cross bun over Easter but for dogs, ingesting dried fruit can lead to vomiting and diarrhoea and even kidney failure. Raisins, sultanas and currants are the worst types of dried fruit that a dog can eat and are extremely toxic, so these must be kept out of reach for any dogs.
Alcohol
Easter is a time of celebration, and this often includes the consumption of alcohol. But if your furry friend ingests even small amounts, it can lead to vomiting, disorientation, tremors, and dangerously low blood sugar levels. Tom urges people to be wary of the fact that alcohol can also appear in hidden forms, such as rum-soaked fruits, liqueur chocolates, and sauces, which makes it easy for dogs to consume without owners realising. Ethanol toxicity could poison your dog and be fatal if left untreated, particularly for smaller breeds.