Why giving Easter eggs to your dogs could kill them

We’re days away from the biggest chocolate extravaganza of the year, with families about to tear open thousands – even millions – of chocolate eggs this weekend.

So it feels like the right time to remind everyone that while humans might just get a tummy ache from overindulging, chocolate is so dangerous for dogs that it can even kill them.

Yes: No matter how convincing the puppy dog eyes, do not relent and give your Jack Russell a meal of Ferrero Rocher.

It won’t be worth spending the bank holiday queueing for an out of hours vet.

So stick to the steak or turkey if you really want to indulge your pet.

Why is chocolate dangerous for dogs?

Although dogs have very strong stomach acid which can deal with dodgy meats better than their owners, they struggle with chocolate due to a specific chemical.

The treat contains the chemical theobromine, which is poisonous to dogs and can lead to symptoms ranging from vomiting and diarrhoea to seizures and, in rare cases, even death. Caffeine in chocolate is also bad for dogs, although not as dangerous.

Last year pet insurance company Petplan paid out £717,215 for 2,524 incidents where dogs were seriously unwell after eating chocolate.

This compares to £637,069 for 2,289 cases in 2022 – a 10% uptick in cases.

What should I do if my dog eats chocolate?

Early treatment is the best option, so call your vet immediately with as much information as you can give on how much they ate and when. Keep the packet with you too if you can.

It can take between six and 12 hours for symptoms of chocolate poisoning to appear, and sometimes last for days.

A vet has lots of ways to treat dogs, ranging from giving charcoal to absorb it in their digestive tract, to pumping their stomach to remove the chocolate (if done early enough) or giving them IV fluids to help flush out the toxins and support the dog.

Which chocolate is the worst?

Dark chocolate may be better for us, but not for dogs. Darker and more bitter chocolates contain more theobromine which is the really dangerous substance for dogs.

Milk chocolate has less, and white chocolate has the least, although they can still be harmful.

Which dogs are most at risk?

It’s not just about the chocolate itself, either, but is dose dependent, so a smaller dog would likely get more ill from eating less chocolate than a larger breed.

Many of the dogs who ended up needing vet treatment with PetPlan were under two years old, too, indicating that it’s the young pups reckless enough to scarf down entire eggs who are most at risk.

In 2023 almost a third (31%) of dogs taken to the vet for chocolate poisoning were under two years of age.

What else can be harmful to pets?

Raisins and grapes are also really bad for dogs.

Lots of popular flowers are also toxic for pets, with cats especially vulnerable to lilies which can be fatal to them just from brushing against the pollen.

Onions, chives and leeks are bad for dogs so you need to be really careful about giving any food from your plate in case it contains them as ingredients.

Many other things can cause a bad reaction in dogs including garden plants, raw potatoes, acorns, multivitamins and painkillers.

So essentially, you need to dog proof your home as much as you would for a baby!

And make sure to store your Easter eggs somewhere out of reach.

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