Easter Pet Poison Awareness

As Easter approaches, bringing with it the temptation to indulge in chocolate eggs or enjoy a delicious hot cross bun, it’s vital to remember that what tantalises our taste buds can pose a grave danger to our beloved pets:

Chocolate: Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine which the human body can process, but a pet’s body can’t deal with in the same way. This means chocolate is toxic to both cats and dogs and the higher the cocoa content, the more toxic it can be. Even a small amount can lead to symptoms ranging from vomiting and diarrhoea to seizures and, in severe cases, even death.

Raisins, currants, and sultanas: This type of dried fruit is popular in Easter baking, especially in hot cross buns. However, these seemingly harmless baking ingredients can cause severe kidney failure in dogs.

Xylitol: Also known as ‘E-Number E967’, xylitol is an artificial sweetener which can be found in many foods such as sugar-free confectionary and baked goods. If ingested, it could cause a sudden, life-threatening drop in blood sugar. A large dose can also cause severe damage to the liver and even liver failure.

Don’t forget springtime hazards in the garden too

As we head into spring, the weather is starting to warm up and the flowers are starting to bloom, but this can also create potential poisoning risks for our pets. We need to make sure that we’ve pet-proofed our gardens and don’t forget about cut flowers, indoor plants or any potential hazards you may encounter when walking your dog:

Plant bulbs (and flowers): Many bulbs can be toxic to pets if chewed or eaten, including popular spring flowers such as tulips, daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths. Dogs are more prone to being affected by plant bulbs such as daffodils, as they tend to dig them up and try to eat them, which can cause stomach upsets, vomiting and possibly seizures.

Lilies: It’s worth making a separate point about lilies, as any part of the lily plant is poisonous to cats and can cause kidney failure. Even exposure to the pollen can potentially be very dangerous.

Slug pellets: Used to control slugs and snails in gardens, they can be toxic to pets, particularly dogs. Some pellets are generally safe to use, but those containing the highly toxic substance metaldehyde, can cause significant poisoning even in small amounts, with symptoms including wobbling, lack of coordination, tremors, and seizures.

Our top pick of products to help with digestive distress:

Select Healthcare Probiotic Digestive Paste for Cats & Dogs
A multi-ingredient advanced formula with montmorillonite, pre and probiotics to help quickly restore normal digestive function and firm stools. Available in a convenient oral syringe for easy application.

Carbodote Oral Suspension
Carbodote is a solution formulated specifically for dogs, cats and exotic animals. Carbodote is an activated charcoal-based oral suspension for use following the digestion of undesirable substances or in case of intestinal discomfort.