Easter dangers

A summary of Easter dangers

A number of foods and flowers that are common around Easter can be harmful to your dog. These include:

• Chocolate Easter eggs
• Hot cross buns and Easter Simnel cake
• Some spring flowers, such as daffodils, tulips and spring crocus
• Fatty or salty food from your Easter Sunday roast

Around Easter keep an extra close eye on your dog. Make sure they don’t sneak any of the foods they shouldn’t be eating and remember to keep all dangerous foods and flowers out of paws reach.

Chocolate

Chocolate poisoning is particularly common at this time of year, especially with the large amounts of Easter eggs that may be around your home. Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which can be poisonous to dogs, as well as most other animals, including cats, rodents and rabbits. Generally speaking, the darker and more expensive the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains. So dark chocolate that’s rich in theobromine is likely to be more toxic than white chocolate, which contains very little.

Find out more about chocolate poisoning.

Hot cross buns and Simnel cake

Grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas are all toxic to dogs and it is believed the dried forms of these fruits are more toxic than grapes. At this time of year, it is therefore important that hot cross buns and Simnel cake are kept well away from your dogs.

If your dog eats any amount of grapes, or the dried versions of them (raisins, sultanas or currants), call you vet for advice. Even small amounts can sometimes be harmful to dogs.

Find out more about the dangers of grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas.

Spring bulbs

Incidents of poisoning from spring bulbs are most likely to occur from dogs eating the bulbs in autumn when they are planted, or in spring when they begin to flower.

Thinking of giving your dog some of your roast dinner?

When you’re sitting down for your Easter Sunday meal it’s nice to be able to share some with your dog, but is this ok and if not is there a way to do it safely?

Some foods  traditionally served up with a roast dinner are toxic to dogs, too fatty or too salty for them. The last thing you want is for a treat to cause them to feel unwell, or even worse result in a trip to the vets.

Find some hints and tips on how to treat your dog safely at Easter lunch:

• Check our list of foods that are poisonous to dogs
• If you’re giving your dog some of your food, even if it’s “safe”, only give them a small amount. Unfamiliar foods can still cause an upset stomach or excessive and uncomfortable wind
• If you give any treats make sure to reduce their meal to help balance their daily calories
• Even if giving dog food, or treats, make sure not to give them too much. Even though it’s Easter, large amounts of food could be dangerous to them, especially if you exercise your dog within a couple of hours after feeding them

What to do if you think your dog has eaten something it shouldn't have

If you think that your dog may have eaten, touched or inhaled something that it shouldn't have, speak to your vet straight away.

Never try to make your dog sick. Trying to do this can cause other complications, which may harm your dog.

Things to tell your vet

In an emergency you can help your veterinary practice make an informed decision as to whether your dog needs to be treated by them, and if so, what the best treatment would be. Where possible you should provide your veterinary practice with information on:

• What poison you think your dog has been exposed to (i.e. chocolate, ibuprofen etc.). Include any product names, or lists of ingredients if relevant
• How much they may have been exposed to (i.e. 500mg, 500ml, one tablet etc, even approximations may help)
• When your dog was exposed to the poison (i.e. 5 minutes, 5 hours or 5 days ago)
• If your dog has been unwell and, if so, what clinical effects have been seen

It is easier for a vet to care for a poisoned dog if it is treated sooner rather than later. If you are in any doubt, don't wait for your dog to become unwell before calling for advice.

How to use this information

The information is intended to be used to prevent poisoning by raising awareness of certain poisons, rather than as a document to be used in an emergency. If you think that your dog has been poisoned, or has come into contact with potentially poisonous substances, contact your local veterinary practice immediately.

Find out more

• Balanced diet
• Dog diarrhoea
• Poisonous food
• Poisons in your garden
• Spring dangers
• Vomiting in dogs