Our pets can be mischievous creatures and often stick their noses (and mouths for that matter!) in places they shouldn’t. As such, we frequently see animals that have eaten substances that can make them ill, particularly at this time of the year. Be aware of some of the most common toxins that can pose a risk to your pet this Easter.
● Chocolate: Many of us like to enjoy an easter egg (or several) this time of year, but be careful not to leave them lying around in places where your pets could sniff them out. Chocolate contains theobromine, a caffeine-like substance. Unlike us humans, dogs are only able to metabolise (break down) theobromine very slowly which means that high levels can build up rapidly in the bloodstream, even after eating small amounts of chocolate. Dark chocolate, cooking chocolate and cocoa powder contain much higher concentrations of theobromine than milk chocolate, and so eating even very small amounts of these can cause severe illness. Chocolate can have effects on the guts, causing vomiting and diarrhoea. Theobromine can also affect the heart, causing a very high heart rate and abnormal heart rhythms, as well as the brain and nervous system, resulting in restlessness, tremors and in the most severe cases, seizures.
● Dried fruit such as sultanas and raisins are an ingredient in many Easter staples, including hot cross buns and simnel cake. The toxic substance that they contain is not known, but they can cause severe kidney damage if eaten. However, unlike most other hazardous substances, there is no known ‘toxic dose’. Individuals vary in their susceptibility and whilst eating large numbers of grapes or raisins is more likely to make your pet unwell, even small amounts can be toxic to some, so keep these far from the reach of your pets.
● Daffodils can be toxic if eaten. Whilst all parts of the plant can pose a risk, the bulbs are most likely to cause problems, including vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
● Easter lilies can look beautiful at this time of the year but are highly toxic to cats. Even ingestion of small amounts can have damaging effects on the kidneys, which can result in death. If your cat gets any lily pollen on their coat, they can lick it off whilst grooming – use sellotape, rather than water, to remove as much pollen as possible and contact us immediately. If you have a cat, the safest approach would be to avoid having any lilies in your house
● Slug pellets are a common sight in gardens of the green-fingered, particularly as numbers of slugs and snails begin to increase with rising temperatures at this time of year. However these small pellets, usually bright blue in colour, are highly toxic to dogs. The most common active ingredient is metaldehyde, which affects the nervous system, causing tremors, wobbliness and seizures. This can lead to sustained very high
body temperatures, in some cases resulting in multi-organ damage. The pellets may look wholly unappetising to you, however your dog is likely to have a differing opinion. So if you have a dog, keep these pellets out of your flower beds
This list is by no means exhaustive and if you are unsure whether or not something your dog has eaten is dangerous, then do not hesitate to contact us for advice. Time is crucial in these cases and so seeking attention quickly will give your pet the best chance of uneventful recovery. The treatment recommended will depend on the toxin involved, the weight of the animal, and how much of it the animal has been exposed to.
If it is safe to do so, an injection may be given to induce vomiting to bring up any toxin sitting in the stomach. The longer it has been since the toxic substance was eaten, the more likely it is it will have travelled out of the stomach into the intestines, in which case it may be too late for it to be brought up. In some cases no treatment will be required at all if the risk is low. However in other cases, hospitalisation is required for more intensive treatment, which may include blood tests, medication and putting the animal on intravenous fluids (a drip).
Warm weather does not just bring with it slugs and snails. Pollen levels will begin to rise over the coming months, causing problems for some pets with allergic skin disease. And whilst they are a problem all year round, fleas are a particular issue at this time of year. With temperatures on the rise, flea eggs begin to hatch in increasing numbers and cause problems for our pets. Avoid flea infestations with effective regular preventative treatment, and in the event of your pet catching fleas, contact us to discuss the most effective way to eliminate them. If you have any health concerns at all for your pet over the Easter period, do not hesitate to contact us
