You can dress your dogs as the Easter bunny for the holiday, but be sure to keep them far away from the egg hunt.
It’s commonly known that chocolate can be fatal if a dog gets ahold of it, but new data shows that chocolate poisoning in dogs nearly doubles during Easter time.
The volume of chocolate poisoning in dogs in April in 2022 was approximately 123% higher than every other time of year — excluding December, according to data collated and analyzed through Agria Pet Insurance and released by The Kennel Club.
The Kennel Club is now warning pet owners to be aware of the dangers of Easter for their furry friends.
“Easter can be an exciting time for the whole family, but amidst the celebrations, owners should remember to keep a careful eye on their pets when there is so much chocolate in the household,” Bill Lambert, dog health expert at the Kennel Club, said in a statement.
“A dog’s acute sense of smell means they can sniff out even the best hidden treats, as these worrying statistics show, so it’s vitally important that owners remain vigilant.”
Chocolate is toxic to dogs because it contains a chemical called theobromine as well as caffeine, which dogs don’t metabolize as easily as humans, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.
“We see an increase in cases of poisoning from chocolate over Easter every year as, even when it’s hidden, it can be all too easy for dogs to get hold of – especially the determined ones,” Robin Hargreaves, senior veterinary advisor for Agria Pet Insurance, said.
“Sadly, while this should be an enjoyable time of year, there is a real danger with chocolate poisoning, and treatment required for cases can be very costly, not to mention a stressful experience. It is so important to be extremely vigilant, so please keep chocolate, or anything toxic to your pets, far from reach.”
Research also found that 40% of dog owners are worried about how they’ll care for their four-legged friends if the cost of living increases.
Dog worry that if dog owners don’t take caution, they’ll have to deal with unnecessary financial costs such as veterinary bills — as well as dealing with an emotional tax on both the dog and the owner.
“Of course, a lot of families are facing uncertainty and stress owing to the cost-of-living crisis and may not be able to cope with any additional or unexpected veterinary costs,” Lambert said.
“Not only can chocolate poisoning be extremely expensive, it is also incredibly upsetting for dogs and their owners. However, it can also be avoided as long as owners are vigilant and take the necessary precautions.”
Some families might think their dogs are safe since Easter eggs come wrapped in multiple layers — but our pups are smarter than they let on.
Last year, a 7-year-old Maltese named Hector found two bags of foil-covered chocolate in the back of a closed cupboard, wrapped in an additional bag.
But Hector didn’t let a bunch of packaging stop him.
He unwrapped and had eaten most of the chocolate by the time his owner found him and was rushed to the vet, where he was given charcoal to make him throw up as much of the sweet treat as possible before going to an emergency vet to be monitored overnight.
The next day, his blood tests still showed a significant amount of poisoning due to his small size and the large amount of chocolate he ate — and the outlook wasn’t looking good.
However, after seven days of specialist veterinary care, Hector was able to go home.
“Knowing the dangers of chocolate to dogs, I am always very careful to keep it away. I had no idea that Hector’s determination would see him open a cupboard and find wrapped chocolate from within a bag,” his owner said. “
The week that followed was awful as we felt we were very close to losing Hector. I’m so grateful for the treatment Hector received at the specialist vet, and the fact that he was covered by insurance. He wouldn’t be with us now if it wasn’t for those things.”
Hector’s mishap still had an impact on his human in the aftermath, though.
He now has to be on a restricted diet of specialist food for the rest of his life, and his veterinary treatment costs over $6,000.
Recently, PDSA, the UK’s largest veterinarian charity, issued guidelines for chocolate poisoning after a dog was rushed to a clinic after a Labrador-Staffordshire Terrier mix jumped a stair gate and ate a two-pound package of Cadbury Mini Eggs.
Dog experts warn that it’s not just chocolate to be vigilant of.
Grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas are all toxic to dogs, so treats such as hot cross buns and Simnel cake should be hidden away, too, as well as leftovers from an Easter roast that could be too salty or too fatty.