Easter time, the daffodils are shining bright yellow, the lambs are frolicking in the fields, the weather is British and there are copious amounts of chocolate about.
We all know chocolate is bad for our furry friends. The rule of thumb is the darker it gets the more dangerous it is and white chocolate has huge amounts of fat in it (which could cause pancreatitis). However, there are more edible hazards than we realise. I know this because I recently attended my annual Dog First Aid Emergency Care course run by the incredible Bridget at Dog First Aid training. One of the sections we learn about is poisoning. So, when celebrating and getting together with family & friends this Easter time – be Easter Hazard aware.
Never wait – get to the vet!
In previous updates, I’ve chatted about the dangers of antifreeze (screen wash) and road grit but this valuable training also discusses other poisonous edible items. Most people will think Easter Sunday = Easter Eggs! Easter Eggs = chocolate – we know about chocolate already BUT what else is in it that could be poisonous?
- Raisins – these little beauties are everywhere. If you have young humans about – they love these as a snack – just be careful they’re not dropped or fed to the dog!
- Macadamia nuts – This tree nut can also be found in confectionary, baked products, ice cream and snack foods.
- Xylitol. This sugar substitute/sweetener can be found in lots of human foods as well as being sold in its own right. Toothpaste, peanut butter, sweets, chewing gum, low calorie/diabetic baked products & medicines – so check labels thoroughly!
Never wait – get to the vet.
Easter Sunday dinner (let’s not think about those frolicking lambs shall we?) – nothing poisonous here right? Wrong!
- Allium vegetables – to you & me that’s onions, spring onions, leeks, chives, garlic & shallots;
- Cheese & biscuits? I don’t know a dog that doesn’t like cheese! As well as the fat content potentially causing pancreatitis, blue cheese is bad. Mouldy food is bad btw. Grapes with that your cheese – they’re also poisonous.
- Too much vino with your dinner – a headache and you reach for the drugs – Ibuprofen, Diclofenac and NSAIDs, in general, are poisonous. If you happen to enjoy recreational drugs – poisonous for our furry best friends.
- Overeaten – a little gassy perhaps? Blame the dog? Do you spray that air freshener? Yes? Make sure it’s pet-safe then! Even if it says – uses essential oils – some of these are also toxic to our pets.
Never wait – get to the vet.
Dinner over – let’s go for a walk and work off some of those calories. Play in the garden more your style? Well keep an eye out for:
- Slug pellets / Snail bait / Rat poison – nasty for our pooches.
- I know I’m a bit early with this one – normally done around May time but thought it should be Included crop spraying. Insecticides, pesticides, fungicides and other preventive measures are applied to the fields. The farmers have laws to adhere to in regards to spraying to reduce drift outside target areas, as well as protecting the environment & wildlife – so walking along a footpath should be relatively OK. But what if your dog loves to run up and down the tractor lanes in the field? I have a Springer Spaniel – need I say more? Or eat the tender shoots of the crop growing? Some farmers will put up signs informing walkers of any crop spraying. Most information on the www states that once its dry risks are negligible. The same goes for spraying pesticides on your lawn, but most manufacturers state to keep pets away from treated areas for 48hrs minimum. If in doubt, keep your dogs away or on a lead.
- Does your dog love the water? Have I mentioned I have Springers? Standing water, maybe not so much of a problem this time of year but worth mentioning- Blue Green Algae. can be found in lakes, ponds, rivers, canals, ditches, and reservoirs, (outside dog bowls) – toxic to us and our pooches. If you see any, keep pets & humans away and inform the Environment Agency (0800807060)
- Finally – plants – Gasp!!! They are everywhere! Making our gardens and countryside a lush green and something that we Brits are proud of. OMG there are a lot of poisonous plants out there isn’t there? I recommend researching as the list is huge – Bluecross.org.uk are a great source of info. The main ones I see in many gardens/parks are:
- Crocuses / Daffodils/ Tulips / Hyacinths / Bluebells / foxgloves
- Ivy / Mistletoe
- Lilies
- Cyclamen
- Azalea / Rhododendron
- Horse Chestnut (conkers especially).
Never wait – get to the vet.
Okay, so now you have an idea of what edible plants are out there, how do you know if your dog has eaten anything poisonous? What are the signs? Well, these will vary according to the poison but generally:
- Vomiting/diarrhoea
- Seizures
- Tiredness/lethargy
- Excessive thirst/drinking
- Drooling
- Collapse
- Wobbly/twitching/trembling
- Blood in urine
- Abdominal pain
- Sudden death – scary I know there are some nasty things out there.
Never wait – get to the vet.
What do you do if you suspect your dog has eaten something poisonous?
- Keep calm (easier said than done I know) but if you are stressed this will increase stress in your dog;
- Never wait – get to the vet. Phone the Vet beforehand to give them a warning (this applies to all emergency situations, they can prepare);
- If you saw what they ate, take the item or the packaging of the product, with you to the vet;
- If you don’t know if it’s poisonous phone the animal poison line at 01202 509000. This is a paid service but if you do need to go to the vet you will be refunded. (if you don’t you’ve saved yourself an emergency vet fee! No brainer really!)
Don’t forget though, just as ‘dogs are not just for Christmas’ – poisons are not just for Easter time.
Never wait – get to the vet.
Thank you for reading today’s article.
Louise James, Momentum Clinical Canine Massage
