Easter Poisoning in Pets - blog 2025

It’s “the reason for the season” according to Beagles, Labradors & Spaniels… FOOD!

Easter in Australia means celebrating with delicious foods; chocolates bunnies & eggs, warm Hot Cross Buns; Roast dinners; The Easter Egg hunt with the mini-humans. Many Easter foods can be toxic for pets, our blog helps you know how to keep them safe.

Dogs & Chocolate are a NO-NO:

Chocolate is toxic to pets, containing a poisonous substance called theobromine. Domestic animals metabolize theobromine much more slowly than humans. Theobromine poisoning (chocolate toxicosis) is an overdose reaction to the xanthine alkaloid theobromine, found in chocolate, tea, cola beverages & other foods.  Some chocolates also contain caffeine, also harmful to dogs when ingested in large amounts. Please don’t let your dog grow accustomed to sharing your cappuccino.

Humans can tolerate ingesting higher amounts of theobromine & caffeine, therefore some chocolates may be produced with high doses of these substances, along with being packaged in larger amounts, like a ‘Family Size’ block. Inquisitive dogs or those “hungry all the time” breeds (hello Labradors, Spaniels & Beagles!) may be good at finding foods left about. Processed milk chocolate has much lower doses of theobromine than dark chocolate or unsweetened baking chocolate.   

Signs of chocolate poisoning:

·Anxious, agitated behaviour,

·excessive thirst & urination,

·racing heartbeat,

·panting,

·vomiting & diarrhea,

·increased body temperature,

·pale gums,

·muscle rigidity,

·low blood pressure,

·tremors & seizures

·death.

Chocolate Poison Treatment:

If you think your pet has consumed chocolate,

·contact a veterinarian

·You can also contact Animal Poisons Helpline in Australia ph. 1300 869 738

A free charity helpline offering immediate advice for pet owners in Australia.

·Try to have your pet seen to within two hours of ingesting, so your veterinarian may induce vomiting.

·Make a note of the type of chocolate ingested, keep the wrapper, if possible, for calculating type/dose of chocolate toxin ingested.

There is no antidote for chocolate poisoning nor is there any diagnostic tests available for chocolate intoxication. Veterinary treatment is hence aimed at decreasing the toxin effects on the heart & central nervous system. Chocolate toxicosis in animals can result in life-threatening cardiac arrest (arrhythmias) & Central Nervous System dysfunction (like seizures).

To treat the symptoms veterinarians administer drugs for seizures, for heart arrhythmias, administer fluid diuresis to help the body flush out the poison in urine as it can reabsorb the poison back into the body. Theobromine can also induce right atrial cardiomyopathy leading to cardiac arrest.

Toxic doses

Toxic doses of theobromine are reported to be as low as 20 mg/kg. 100mg of dark chocolate consumed by a 10kg dog can be lethal.

Click on "A chocolate calculator for pet owners".

Theobromine has a biological ‘half-life’ in dogs – with symptoms persisting 17.5hrs but symptoms can persist for 72 hours. Toxic doses are lower for cats than for dogs, but cats are much less likely to consume chocolate as they don’t taste sweetness, tending to prefer meat (being obligate carnivores) or chewing indoor plants, grasses, flowers, & things like nice expensive computer cables.

Lovely Sweetie Wrappers

Brightly coloured, crunchy wrappers are a hazard for pets. Cellophane, foil, & plastic are not appropriate for pet consumption or as a toy, & if swallowed may cause gastrointestinal emergencies. Owners may think a bit of bright shiny wrapping is cheap entertainment for pets to play with, but foil can tear digestive tracts, possibly requiring emergency surgery.

 Keep chocolates out of reach.    

• Keep chocolates out of reach of pets
• Store chocolates away after use, high in a cupboard or the fridge.
• Make guests aware of chocolate poisoning to your pets
• Dispose of wrappers immediately & properly
• Offer safe alternatives of fun or food to your pets
• Easter Egg Hunts – dogs can find any left-over eggs missed by the kiddies in the yard. Consider going to an organised Easter Egg Hunt off-site, without the dog.

Hot Cross Buns 

Mmm, warm, delicious Easter Buns dripping with butter. Hot Cross Buns often contain sultanas. Along with raisins, currants & grapes, these foods are extremely toxic to dogs. Ingesting these may causevomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain & dogs may develop fatal kidney failure. Scientists don’t fully understand why these foods are toxic to dogs. It’s best not to allow your dog access to these foods at all.

Jams & Chutneys

On the note of sultanas, grapes, currants etc., many jams, conserves, or special fruity chutneys & sauces (for the family roast) may contain these fruits. Be careful when serving these sauces & jams

BBQs & Roasts

Aussies love a BBQ & a Roast meal. Any excuse, really! Some BBQ & roast meals are not great for your pet to consume.

·Prawn heads can cut inside your pets’ digestive tracts. Please just don’t offer it to them.

·Sausage: highly fatty, this food can give your poor pet a painful attack of pancreatitis. (Inflammation of the pancreas)

·Cooked bones:  Never offer your pet cooked bones; they become brittle, possibly splintering with shards causing severe internal injuries, even death. They can be a choking hazard. They may cause gastric obstructions, requiring emergency surgery. They may cause constipation. They may also cause dental problems, like broken teeth or mouth injuries.

·Say no to ham! Ham is actually very bad for your pets. It’s high in sodium (salt) & very fatty. The high sodium content can lead to kidney problems, & high fat can lead to pancreatitis & other digestive problems.  

Nuts

Macadamias are highly toxic to dogs, they may cause muscle tremors, vomiting, & potentially seizures, & should not ever be offered to dogs. Walnuts, whilst not as toxic as macadamias, can make dogs very sick. Other nuts, generally, are very high in fat content & can cause gastrointestinal upsets for your dog. Peanuts are safe for dogs; these are not actually a nut but a legume. Peanut butter or peanuts are safe in small amounts as a treat for your dog.

Xylitol

Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs and even a small amount can be fatal.An artificial sweetener, Xylitol is safe for humans but causes a dramatic drop in blood sugar in dogs. Found in sugar-free products, chewing gums, sweets, even some peanut butter.

It causes a rapid release of insulin in dogs, leading to a dangerous drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Symptoms of Xylitol poisoning can appear within 10-60 minutes and include vomiting, lethargy, loss of coordination, seizures, and potentially death. It can also cause permanent liver damage.

Always check labels before offering food to your dog, and never leave food with Xylitol in reach of your pets.

 If you think your pet has consumed any foods that may harm them, contact Animal Poisons Helpline in Australia ph. 1300 869 738 for advice 24/7, or call your nearest veterinarian.

 Click here, For more information

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