Each year we warn our clients about the deadly affects that chocolate can have on our pets.
But it is not the only human food that can be very dangerous.
Onions, garlic, macadamia nuts, raisins, grapes and even avocados are other everyday food items that are harmless to people but should not be included in the family pet’s diet.
A chemical called alkaloid theobromine – found in chocolate, tea and cola drinks – is bad for pets, so too are some of the ingredients in other things we like to eat.
For example, onions and garlic contain thiosulphate, which is toxic to dogs and can cause anemia that leads to the breakdown of red blood cells.
Also, macadamia nuts also contain a toxic compound that appears to cause muscle weakness in dogs, while raisins and grapes can cause kidney and liver problems, and avocado has been found to cause problems in some dog breeds.
The danger with chocolate is that animals such as dogs, cats, parrots and horses could not effectively metabolize the chemical theobromine found in chocolate, the chemical can remain in an animal’s bloodstream for many hours and lead to hyperactivity and excessive urination with the risk of being fatal if not detected and treated.
We should be particularly vigilant at Easter to make sure our pets can not get access to chocolate and are not offered chocolate by children.
He said some symptoms of poisoning might not become evident for several hours so it was important to seek immediate treatment for any animal that was suspected of ingesting a sizeable amount of chocolate.
A small piece of Easter egg is very unlikely to cause any problems for a healthy dog giving your animal chocolate in any amount is just not worth the risk.
If you would love to give a little gift to your pet then there are a host of excellent treats on the market that will your pet will love, raw carrots, apples, cooked rice, bananas and strawberries are all healthy and tasty alternatives for the family pet.