Keep pets safe this Easter

WOMAN'S VET EMMA MARCHINGTON HELPS YOU AND YOUR PETS

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Easter is always an exciting time of year. After a long, grey, cold, wet winter, it's wonderful to get outside and enjoy the daffodils, spring lambs and warm sunshine. As pet owners, we naturally want our furry friends to join in the festivities while ensuring their safety. Since Easter and chocolate go hand in hand, it's crucial to remember how dangerous chocolate can be for dogs. Keep it well out of reach of both pets and children, and be especially cautious if you're organising an Easter egg hunt. Instead of hiding chocolate eggs around the house and garden, I use cardboard eggs that children can exchange for chocolate, which they can enjoy under supervision.

There are other things you should be watching out for around Easter time if you have pets - here are my answers to a few of the questions that I'm often asked.

Chocolate dangers

Q. How bad would it actually be if my dog got hold of a chocolate egg?

A. Even small quantities of chocolate, especially dark chocolate, can be dangerous to dogs. It contains an ingredient called theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. Symptoms don't always show immediately so if you think your dog has eaten some chocolate it's important to phone the vet straight away for advice.