As Easter approaches, dog owners are being reminded to keep chocolate and certain dried fruits out of reach of their pets.
Dogs Trust Snetterton has issued a warning about the toxic effects of these foods. Chocolate contains theobromine, a substance that dogs cannot metabolize properly. If ingested, chocolate can lead to symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive thirst, drooling, excitability, and even severe conditions like seizures and fatal heart problems.
Similarly, dried fruits such as grapes, raisins, currants, and sultanas are highly toxic to dogs, potentially causing fatal kidney failure.
Victoria Phillips, the veterinary surgeon manager at Dogs Trust, emphasized the importance of keeping dogs safe during the Easter festivities: “Our dogs are part of the family, so owners may want to include them in the celebrations. However, tasty treats like chocolate eggs and hot cross buns are very harmful to our canine friends and can make them seriously ill or even fatal.”
To ensure their pets’ safety, owners are advised not to give dogs human chocolate or dried fruits as treats. It is also crucial to make sure that children and visitors are aware of these rules and that bins are dog-proof to prevent scavenging.
For more information on keeping your dog happy and healthy, visit the Dogs Trust website.