Easter is a weekend of celebration for many of us, and our dogs love to join in the festivities too.
After all, there’s often time to fit in a longer walk or two, as well as visitors to get plenty of attention from. Why wouldn’t it be an enjoyable time for our canines?
However, Easter doesn’t come without its dangers, including chocolate, which is one of the foods that dogs should never eat. New research from The Kennel Club shows that cases of chocolate poisoning in dogs increase by 50% over Easter compared to a typical month.
Last year, almost a fifth of all claims for chocolate poisoning in the entirety of 2024 were made in March and April, in the lead-up to and aftermath of the Easter weekend, according to the data collected by Kennel Club Pet Insurance and provided by Agria Pet Insurance.
One dog mom has urged fellow canine parents to be cautious by sharing her family’s own experience. Jenny Tudor, from Kent, England, was on vacation over Easter with her family and their aptly named dachshunds, Rolo and Cocoa, when a chocolate gift from a friend was accidentally left in the dogs’ reach.
Rolo had found the chocolate, and when the family returned they realized that he’d eaten it. Noticing that his heart was racing, they rushed him to the emergency vet where he needed constant monitoring for two days – costing the family more than £1,000 ($1,300).
Tudor said, “I felt really panicked because it was such a lot of chocolate for a small dog, and we had no idea how much time had passed since he had consumed it. I just felt so sick at the thought of how serious this could be, and felt so stupid for not triple-checking before we went out that the bag was well out of reach.”
Fortunately, Rolo made a full recovery. Tudor added, “When we collected him, it was such a relief to see that he had his sparkle back and he was so pleased to see us. Lots of cuddles were in order!”
Of course, it’s best to be mindful to keep chocolate out of reach in the first place, make sure children don’t leave their Easter eggs where dogs can get them, and keep dogs away from chocolate egg hunts, but mistakes can and do happen.
While symptoms of chocolate poisoning can vary, here’s what to look out for according to Robin Hargreaves, senior veterinary advisor for Agria:
- Sickness
- Upset or painful stomach
- Dribbling
- Fast breathing
- Seizures
If you’re worried that your pet has eaten any chocolate, keep the packaging and consult a vet immediately. Do so even if they seem fine, because symptoms can appear even up to 24 hours later.
Don’t want your pup to miss out altogether? You can buy dog-friendly chocolate online, or make this tasty and vet-approved hot chocolate for them instead. It’s dog-friendly, and while it’s a Christmas recipe, there’s no reason why it wouldn’t be a great fit for Easter, too.
