If, like us, your pet loves to gobble down everything in sight (looking at you Labradors!), please be cautious.
The Australian Veterinary Association is urging pet owners to be extra careful with animals and Easter treats. Spokesman David Lees says early intervention is key to good outcomes for pets who raid the Easter goodie stash.
“Given the variation in recommendations depending on what has been ingested, it is best to seek veterinary advice as soon as it becomes known that the dog has eaten anything that they should not have done,” he says.
Particular foods to be vigilant about are:
Chocolate
Easter is synonymous with chocolate and Easter eggs. However, chocolate has an enzyme called theobromine which can cause dogs to become quite ill. The darker the chocolate, the higher the amount of theobromine.
Symptoms range from a high heart rate and breathing rate, signs of being hyperactive, vomiting and diarrhoea.
So keep your chocolate stash out of reach of the family pet – especially if you’re planning an egg hunt with the kids!
Raisins and sultanas
Easter means hot cross buns – most of which are made with raisins and/or sultanas.
The concern with raisins is that grapes can be toxic to dogs. And it is not dose dependent, which means that potentially just a single grape ingested could cause a dog to become sick and develop kidney poisoning.
Lollies
Lollies are another no-no for pets.
Not only are they a choking hazard, some lollies are made with a sweetener called xylitol, which can cause a dramatic drop in a dog’s blood sugar. This can make dogs lethargic and, in its extreme, can cause a pup to collapse or have a seizure.
BBQ food (sausages)
Foods rich in fat can cause indigestion issues in pets, but can also cause liver hepatitis or pancreatitis. This can manifest in severe vomiting and diarrhoea.
Mr Lees says urgent veterinary advice is key to a good outcome for your pet.
“In certain instances, like chocolate ingestion, it may be possible to make the pet vomit which can limit toxicity, especially if the ingestion has just occurred,” he says. “In other situations, like a raisin ingestion, the recommendation would be to have a blood test performed to check the kidneys.”
A service that might be handy during this period is the Australian Animal Poisons Helpline 1300 869 738. This free service operates during office hours seven days a week and offers after-hours consults with on-call poisons specialists for $65.
The helpline advises that once you realise your pet has ingested something toxic, try to rinse or wipe their mouth out with a damp towel. Then seek urgent veterinary advice. Do not give your pet anything to eat or drink and do not attempt to induce vomiting.
