VET COLUMN: Keep pets safe from Easter risks

I am really looking forward to Easter. Getting the children and my wife their Easter eggs, preparing for the Easter egg hunt (hidden by the Easter bunny of course!), it is a exciting time of the year for most people.

It is not the time to have a seriously ill pet.
Easter presents a variety of dangers for dogs and cats.
The number one danger is chocolate. Especially dangerous is dark chocolate which contains more cocoa than milk chocolate.
Cocoa contains theobromine which does not poison us but is very toxic to dogs and cats.
Two squares of dark chocolate is enough to make a Jack Russell sized dog ill and five squares is enough for a Labrador.
Milk chocolate is less toxic but a full bar of this is dangerous for a small dog.
If your dog eats chocolate ring your vet immediately and if possible give an estimation of the amount and cocoa content.
Early treatment will usually save your pet and involves being made to vomit, given a load of activated charcoal, put on a drip and given injections.
So really make sure to keep your Easter eggs and chocolate out of reach of your pet.
You can now buy Easter eggs especially made for dogs that does not contain the toxic theobromine.
Many people like to buy flowers at Easter but please be careful with lilies.
Cats are susceptible to poisoning from lily pollen. This is highly toxic and causes acute renal failure.
Cats become poisoned when their rub against the lily and the pollen falls on their back which they later lick off.
If you have cats pick different flowers or remove the pollen containing parts.
One last warning – not just for Easter. Be careful with any mints that container sweeteners.
Xylitol is a very common artificial sweetener in many products, including sugar-free gum, sweets, breath mints, baked goods, cough syrup, children’s chewable vitamins, mouthwash, and toothpaste, to list a few.
The most common source of Xylitol poisoning that vets see comes from sugar-free gum.
As few as nine pieces of gum of certain brands is enough to cause serious problems in a 20kg dog.
Xylitol causes low blood glucose which causes weakness, depression, tremors, incoordination, collapse and coma. This can occur within an hour of ingestion.
Larger amounts of Xylitol can cause liver failure up to 72 hours after ingestion.
If your dog or cat has eaten anything containing Xylitol contact your vet immediately who will monitor the situation with regular blood tests and treat as needed.
Have a great Easter and keep your pets safe.