I don’t know about you, but this year I’m particularly looking forward to Easter celebrations. I can’t wait to spend time with my family, going on some long dog walks, hunting for Easter eggs, and eating some Easter treats. We always want to include every member of the family in our Easter traditions, our four-legged friends included. I’m sure you feel the same, but knowing which activities are dog friendly isn’t always obvious. Can dogs eat chocolate? This is a question that people regularly ask me at this time of year, so read on to find out the answer to that and other Easter-related questions.
Can dogs eat chocolate?
The easy answer to this is simply “no”! Chocolate contains something called theobromine. In dogs this causes vomiting, diarrhoea, panting, excessive thirst, irregular heartbeat and seizures. In worst cases it can result in death. Easter egg hunts have been done for years, but increasingly there are community egg hunts and hunts in the grounds of National Trust properties. The majority of these don’t allow dogs to be present during the hunt itself. Unfortunately there is always the potential for dogs to discover an uncollected chocolate egg after the event is done. Dogs don’t realise that chocolate is harmful to them and will happily scoff it down like any other treat. Be extra vigilant when walking dogs in these areas at this time of year.
We tend to use large, brightly coloured plastic eggs for the children’s egg hunt, hiding the chocolate treats inside. This way, we don’t end up with undiscovered chocolates in the garden that a curious pup might discover at a later date.
If you want to include your dog in an Easter egg hunt, why not set up a small one at home just for the dog? Use chocolate that is specially formulated for dogs. There are plenty of them on the market these days that are made from carob and don’t contain theobromine. Can dogs eat chocolate? Yes, if it is a chocolate for dogs.
What other Easter treats can my dog eat?
Chocolate isn’t the only danger at Easter time. I’m looking forward to tucking into a hot cross bun or two, but I know I won’t be able to give my dog any of these. Hot cross buns contain raisins or sultanas, which can cause kidney failure in dogs.
Steer clear of fat trimmings from your Easter lunch. Our blog post discusses these and other foods to avoid with your dog.
Are there other Easter dangers for my dog?
We’re hopefully through the harshest of the cold weather. Tulips, daffodils and other bulbs are starting to flower. I love to see those splashes of colour appearing in what has been a pretty bleak looking garden for most of the winter. However, I’m also conscious that these bulbs are poisonous for dogs and try to position them in an area of the garden that my dog isn’t easily able to access.
If your dog does manage to eat Easter items that are potentially poisonous, contact your vet immediately for advice.
Whatever you plan to do this weekend, the entire team at Travall wishes you a very Happy Easter!
Information given in this article is not a substitute for advice from a qualified medical professional. Please consult a vet for advice specific to your dog.
