With Easter around the corner, we’ve created some useful Easter tips for pet parents. We start to forget about the dark and cold nights and look forward to warmer weather and chocolate eggs. There are a few things to consider, make sure you keep the below out of reach: Chocolate Easter eggs Chocolate contains theobromine, which is poisonous to cats and dogs. It can make your pet extremely ill and in some cases can even be fatal. Dark chocolate The more cocoa solids means the more Theobromine it will contain. It is advised not to give any chocolate to your pet. If you think they will feel left out, give them their favourite treat. Raisins, currants, sultanas and grapes These raisins can be found in hot cross buns are also toxic for cats and dogs. They can cause a range of conditions such as kidney failure, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, loss of appetite and even abdominal pain Bones from chicken, lamb or any meat on the bone Can fragment inside a cat or dog once eaten. If someone is cooking the roast dinner this weekend, make sure to keep an eye on pets who are cheeky and try to steal food from the table. Hot cross buns Contain dried fruit in them such as currents, raisins and sultanas and all of these are toxic to dogs. If ingested, dogs can suffer from severe kidney failure as a result. Try and keep any food containing dried fruit away from your dog. Why not purchase Easter eggs for your pets from VioVet and share the fun with your pets so they can eat theirs as much as you can enjoy yours. Easter eggs for cats Easter eggs for dogs It’s not only treats that can be harmful to our cats and dogs, certain flowers can be poisonous and should be kept out of reach. Bulbs, including daffodils These plants are poisonous and can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and even heart problems as the bulbs are the most dangerous part. Tulips A flower to be aware of due them irritating your dog’s mouth and intestinal tract. If ingested, your dog will experience drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea. Heart problems can also arise and problems breathing and showing signs of tulip poisoning. Flowers such as lilies These contain toxins and can result in kidney failure when eaten by cats. Decorations May look pretty in your home but harm your pets. Hang and place your decorations out of the reach of your pet, as they may see it as a new toy and want to investigate. Other plants, flowers, fruit and vegetables listed below are poisonous to dogs: Apples (pips) Apricots (kernel) Azalea Bluebells Buttercups Cyclamen (root) Elderberry Foxglove (leaves and seeds) Hyacinth (bulbs) Ivy (whole plant) Lupin (leaves, seeds) Onion (causes anaemia) Peach (stones and leaves) Rhododendron Rhubarb (leaves) Sweetpea (stem) Wild cherry tree (twigs and foliage) Yew (berries and foliage) Heading out for a walk with your dog? Keep your dog on a lead if you’re around wildlife in a park, by a pond or lake or at the beach. A dog may think it’s playing with a duck, rabbit, swan, chick or seal but a bite from a dog can be fatal to these animals. What to do if you think your cat or dog has eaten or ingested something they shouldn’t have? Prevent them from eating any more. Phone your local emergency vet immediately for advice. Try to find out what and how much they may have eaten and symptoms, as this will help your vet to treat your pet. Pet care advice when you need it the most. If your pet is unwell our 24/7 advice service may help save you an unnecessary trip to the vet. Speak to a vet or vet nurse by phone, chat and video. Our pet care service also offers behavioural and nutritional support, to help you take care of your pet. Learn more about our petconnect service Do you need pet insurance? We understand being a pet parent can be tough, especially if your pet becomes ill or gets injured. It’s important to consider pet insurance if you have a pet, as cover can help cover the cost of vet fees should your cat or dog need to visit the vet. Compare our insurance plans and get a quote through our website using the following link. Get a quote for your pet