20/04/2019
If you are worried your pet has had any contact or has ingested any of these please call Hampstead for advice 02077944948
Make a note of the time of ingestion and bring any packets with you.
🌼 The Easter break is a great time to get together with loved ones, and spend the extra few bank holiday days we may have with our furry friends 🐶🐱🐹🐰.
🌸 But did you know that there are certain foods that are poisonous and can be fatal for your much loved pets? Unfortunately this isn’t always limited to food, either, and Easter brings a group of items that we feel you should always take special care around.
• 🍫 Chocolate 🍫 - always keep chocolate out of reach of your pets, particularly dogs. A toxin found in the plants used in chocolate manufacture, called Theobromine, can make your dog very poorly. It can even be fatal. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning can include (but are not limited to): tremors, vomiting, muscle stiffness, fitting. If your dog consumes chocolate, you should always contact your veterinary practice for advice.
• 🥮 Hot Cross Buns 🥮 - and other similar treats which contain raisins, currants and dried fruits. These can lead to kidney issues in both cats and dogs if consumed. Symptoms of currant/raisin poisoning can be: increased drinking and urination, but you may not notice any symptoms straight away.
• 🍬 Foods/Sweets containing Xylitol 🍬 - some sweets, and even some jars of peanut butter (a much loved treat for dogs) contain a substance called Xylitol, which is an artificial sweetener. Even a small amount can be fatal to dogs. Symptoms of Xylitol poisoning can be: vomiting, sleepiness/lethargy, disorientation and seizures. Again, you must contact your vet immediately if you think your pet may have consumed anything containing Xylitol.
• 🌷 Lilies (and other flowers) 🌷 - Easter tends to be a particular time of year that lilies are given, and lots of people will have them in the house. Every part of a lily is extremely toxic to cats, and even the water that lilies sit in is dangerous. Some symptoms of lily poisoning can be: dehydrated, extreme thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures. If not treated quickly, lily poisoning can be fatal, so you MUST seek veterinary treatment immediately.
Dogs should also not eat daffodils or tulips.
‼️ There are unfortunately lots of other items that can be poisonous to pets, which is why we advise to avoid feeding your animals human food.
😓 So what should you do if you suspect your pet has eaten anything from the list above?
1. Make sure they don’t carry on eating more of the substance.
2. Phone your local Vet, or contact an emergency 24/7 Vet for advice.
3. Take your pet to the vets as calmly, but as quickly as you can. If possible, bring any packaging or some of the substance itself for reference.
Please be careful and do not leave these sort of items in reach or eyeshot of your pets. If they can’t see it or smell it, then you should be OK! Having said all of that, we wish you a HAPPY and HEALTHY Easter! 💙🐣💙
