RSPCA wants pet owners to know about this Easter danger

The RSPCA has a big warning for all loving dog and cat owners this Easter.

You could kill your dog by feeding it even a little bit of chocolate, the society’s senior vet in Queensland, Anne Chester, told AAP.

“The systems of cats and and dogs cannot tolerate theobromine, one of the key ingredients of chocolate,” she said, adding that eating as little as 50 grams of chocolate could be fatal to a pet.

Theobromine, a chemical that’s also found in tea, cola drinks and other foods and has a similar affect on the body to caffeine, occurs naturally in the cocoa beans that are used to make chocolate.

It’s not harmful to humans in small doses but in animals it can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and hyperactivity and even cause the animal to go into a coma and suffer seizures that can lead to death.

Chester says its also important to keep an eye on the family pets if you’re planning a barbecue over the Easter break, as onion can be toxic to animals, and the fat from meats can cause pancreatitis. 

And everyone knows to be cautious about feeding cooked bones to pets, because they can break into sharp pieces that can pierce an animal’s throat or stomach.

Do you love to give your pet treats? What’s their favourite?