Dog owners are being urged to not feed their pets hot cross buns this Easter. It’s common for people to feed their dogs certain human foods as a treat. Although some foods are completely harmless, others put the health and lives of dogs at risk. For this seasonal time of the year, hot cross buns could be fatal for dogs.
Toxic Treats
The popular Easter snack contains ingredients such as raisins, sultanas, lemon zest and nutmeg; all of which are toxic to animals. Although past campaigns warning owners against giving their pets chocolate have been highly successful, other toxic foods are less well known. As a result, owners simply don’t know that what they are giving to their pets could potentially be extremely harmful.
Certain Ingredients Cause Major Health Problems
Hot cross buns are a wonderful treat for humans, but they can kill dogs. Raisins and sultanas can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs and cats. There is also a toxic agent in fruit that can also lead to diarrhoea, vomiting and extreme lethargy. There is no knowledge as to why animals have this reaction, only that they are at risk.
Some hot cross buns also contain nutmeg, which contains a compound called Myristicin. When consumed in large amounts, nutmeg can be poisonous. So, if a dog manages to infiltrate the baked goods in your house, they could be in serious danger. In extreme cases, dogs can experience hallucinations, increased heart rate and blood pressure, dry mouth, abdominal pain and seizures.
Lemon zest may appear as an unlikely poison, it can still cause significant harm. Citrus fruits are toxic to dogs and cats. They can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and depression. Feeding your pet human treats can be fine, but it still isn’t worth the risking of harming your animal and losing a treasured member of the family. There are plenty of safe nutritious treat options that will perfectly suit your pet.