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The first word that springs to mind when you hear ‘Easter’ is almost definitely ‘eggs’! A symbol of new life and rebirth, eggs have long been given and received at springtime festivals, to welcome the new season and celebrate the most important date in the Christian calendar.

Originally just plain eggs, then hard-boiled and decorated, the first English chocolate egg was sold by Fry’s in 1873. Fast forward to today, and we buy approximately 80 million Easter eggs every year here in the UK – that is a serious amount of chocolate!

As members of the family, it can be tempting to share our treats with our pets. However, you must refrain from sharing chocolate or leaving chocolate within reach of your pet dogs, especially when it is in abundance such as around Easter time.

Can dogs eat chocolate?

In short, the answer is no. Chocolate is toxic to dogs. The two specific components of chocolate that are toxic to dogs are theobromine and caffeine (it’s important to note that any caffeinated products need to be avoided by dogs). Humans can metabolise theobromine with relative ease, however this is not the case for dogs. Breaking down theobromine and caffeine can take a lot longer for a dog’s digestive system, which is how it can build up to toxic levels and potentially cause fatal issues.

Important! The more concentrated the chocolate product, the more toxic it is to dogs. Dark chocolate with higher percentages of cacao poses a much higher risk than milk chocolate for example.

What happens when a dog eats chocolate?

Theobromine and caffeine can both cause serious cardiovascular, central nervous system and neurological problems for dogs, including vomiting, diarrhoea, rapid heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, anxiety and heart failure. The first sign that and dog has eaten chocolate is often hyperactivity – so keep an eye out if you suspect your dog has eaten any chocolate.

How much chocolate can a dog eat?

There is no exact formula to determine how much chocolate a dog may be able to consume without becoming unwell. Rough guideless indicate that chocolate is toxic when consumed at 20mg per kilogram of the dog’s weight. The safest and recommended option is to completely eliminate any risk of your dog eating any chocolate at all. This is particularly important if you’re planning Easter egg hunts, where chocolate eggs can be hidden and forgotten about… until your dog manages to sniff it out!

What to do if a dog eats chocolate

Timing is everything when it comes to dealing with a dog who has consumed chocolate. Upon discovering your dog has eaten chocolate, you should phone your vet immediately to seek advice. It can be useful to keep the chocolate packaging to show the vet the ingredients and quantities your dog has consumed. They may provide your dog with medicine that induces vomiting, to eliminate the toxins from your dog’s body.

Don’t forget! Chocolate is also dangerous for cats to eat, however cats are unlikely to attempt to eat chocolate as they don’t tend to show interest in sugary foods.

Easter dog treats to enjoy

Whilst there are ‘dog easter eggs’ available on the market, these are often packed with sugar and artificial ingredients which aren’t ideal for doggy digestive systems. We recommend sticking to raw treats at Easter, perhaps coming up with your own Easter egg trail of yummy treats, or stuffing a Kong (or similar toy) with treats for your dog to play with and enjoy.

Lamb is the meat traditional served on Easter Sunday, so why not include your pup in on this tradition by serving them something from Nutriment’s lamb menu? Our lamb formula (tub and chubb), and lamb Dinner for Dogs are the perfect choices! Or give them a lamb-y treat or two such as our lamb puffs or lamb ribs!

Alternatively, have you considered planning a dog-friendly Easter trail at your local National Trust site? This is a great way for the whole family to get some fresh air and exercise during the Easter holidays.

As always, remember to share your Easter fun with us on social media and tag us @nutrimentraw!