Happy Easter for your dog too!

And we don’t mean making it a happy Easter for your dog by letting it chase the Easter bunnies or join the family in an Easter egg feast!

No matter how much drooling your dog does, you have to keep them away from the family’s Easter treats – for their own sake.

It’s not all bad news for dogs at Easter though… We can make them their own Easter treats!

First, here’s what you should keep your dog away from this Easter…

Easter eggs chocolate is dangerous for dogs – all year round – and not just because of the weight they’ll put on by eating it!

The danger comes from theobromine, an ingredient in chocolate that can be toxic to animals, including dogs. It’s more potent in plain chocolate, cooking chocolate and cocoa powder, but milk chocolate can be dangerous, too, depending on the amount eaten.

It’s best to be safe and not let your dog eat any. If it does manage to grab a cheeky bite or two, watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, twitchiness and unsteady walking. If you see signs of any of these symptoms, take your dog to the vet immediately.

If you would like to treat your dog to a ‘Doggy Easter Egg’ then these are available in pet shops such as Pets At Home who stock ‘Waggy Easter Eggs‘ using chocolate specifically formulated for dogs.

Hot cross buns are also a no-no. Raisins, currants and sultanas are all toxic to dogs.

Sugar/dairy-free foods can be deadly for dogs. If you’re trying to limit the damage of Easter to your waistline by opting for sugar-free treats, be sure to keep them well out of your dog’s reach. Dairy-free Easter eggs can be sweetened with Xylitol, which is fine for humans but can be seriously hazardous to dogs.

Getting into the spirit of Easter

If you’re planning a big family get-together at Easter, it’s not just the sweet treats you need to keep out of your dog’s mouth.

Alcohol is not good for dogs. Not only will it make them a bit wobbly but also it can cause convulsions and breathing problems.

The hunt is on!

Your dog can also have all the fun of its own Easter egg hunt, if you make it some special eggs to sniff out. Just be careful if there are small children around… Your dog in its determination to get to the eggs first could be a little bit too boisterous for the young’uns.

So, if your dog’s going to have its own Easter treats, how do you make them? Well it’s not difficult…

Doggy Easter eggs

All you need to make these are a few packets of dog chocolate drops, an Easter egg mould, a saucepan and a bowl.

To make

Fill the saucepan with water and place on stove on a low heat. Put the chocolate drops in the heatproof bowl on top of the pan. Stir while the chocolate melts.
Next grease the egg mould very lightly with olive oil.
Spoon the melted chocolate around the insides of the mould then refrigerate until set.
Use a bit more melted chocolate on the edge of one half of the egg to ‘glue’ it together with the second half.

That’s all there is to it!

Your dog will love it – but don’t let it eat the whole lot at once! It’s a treat, not a meal!

Happy Easter!