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How to create a safe ‘Easter egg’ hunt for your dogs

Headshot of Raquel de Brito
Raquel de BritoThe West Australian
Frankie Loves Barkery owner Esther Wagner and Frankie.
Camera IconFrankie Loves Barkery owner Esther Wagner and Frankie. Credit: BRODIE BUTLER

If you can’t resist those sad puppy dog eyes that watch longingly as you bite into your Easter eggs, there are plenty of safe chocolate treats to ensure your fur baby doesn’t miss out on all the fun this Easter.

Perth-based business Frankie Loves Barkery have chocolates so tasty, they can be enjoyed by both pet parents and their four-legged friends.

“Our most popular chocolates would be the strawberry and carob bars as we have collaborated with The Cheeky Project to create a carob bar which can be enjoyed by both dogs and humans,” owner Esther Wagner says.

Sweet goodies available from Frankie Loves Barkery.
Camera IconSweet goodies available from Frankie Loves Barkery. Credit: Supplied

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“Next would be our chocolate paws and chocolate bones,” she reveals.

Wagner says her chocolates are a hit not just at Easter but all year round as treats, and especially for dog birthdays.

“The doggy chocolate is a high-value treat for (my dog) Frankie. He’s not one for food, however when the chocolate comes, he is willing to do anything for it,” she says.

Wagner began baking her own treats when her beloved cavoodle started suffering from food intolerances and allergies. They were so well-received, she decided to open Frankie Loves Barkery.

All treats are wheat-free, preservative-free and handmade with human-grade ingredients.

Sweet goodies available from Frankie Loves Barkery.
Camera IconSweet goodies available from Frankie Loves Barkery. Credit: Supplied

“Whilst all Frankie Loves Barkery treats are lovingly created, refined and baked by hand, none of our products are released without the stamp of approval from our chief taste tester, Frankie,” she says.

As Easter approaches, PETstock vet Dr Katherine Macmillan is reminding pet owners to keep Easter eggs away from their beloved dogs to avoid unwanted visits to the vet.

“The main ingredient that causes problems, theobromine, is found in the cocoa beans that are used to make chocolate. Like caffeine, dogs cannot metabolise theobromine as well as people are able to and this can lead to a range of problems, including death in the worst-case scenario,” she reveals.

“The level of toxicity depends on the cocoa content of the chocolate that is eaten — baking chocolate presents the biggest risk. Dark chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate while white chocolate is the least likely to cause problems,” she adds.

According to Dr Macmillan, online chocolate toxicity calculators are available that provide a rough guide on what amounts of chocolate are potentially dangerous for dogs of different sizes.

She says PETstock carries a range of handmade treats using quality ingredients so dogs can enjoy their own safe “Easter egg hunt”.

Symptoms of chocolate toxicity

• Vomiting

• Diarrhoea

• Excessive thirst or urination

• Restlessness and agitation

• Bloated abdomen

• Twitching and stiffness

• Seizures

• Elevated temperature

• Elevated heart rate

Signs can develop between two and 12 hours after the chocolate is eaten. If your dog is unwell, you should seek urgent veterinary attention.

Even better, if you are aware that your dog has eaten a significant quantity of chocolate, take them to a vet before they show any signs of being unwell. The vet will induce emesis (make your dog vomit) which will stop the toxin from being absorbed.

How to prevent chocolate toxicity

• Storage: To prevent the risk of your pet being poisoned by chocolate at Easter, store all Easter eggs in a high place and out of reach of even the most clever canine. Dogs have a strong sense of smell — what may be well hidden for a child will not work with a dog and their super-sensitive nose.

• Creating a safe Easter egg hunt: place your dog in a separate room or area while you set up and carry out the Easter egg hunt. If possible, create a map that includes information on where you have placed the eggs just in case some are missed by the hunters!

• Wrapping: After the Easter egg hunt, make sure that no foil or wrapping from the chocolate is left behind. The remnants of the chocolate will make them extremely enticing to dogs, and if ingested, the wrapping will be difficult for dogs to digest.

• Supervise children: Young children can be naturally generous and may try to share their Easter chocolate with the dog who will be unlikely to refuse. Also make sure that children store any uneaten chocolate in a safe place so that it is not stolen.

• Training: If you see your dog steal an egg or eat some wrapping, ask them to “drop” it or offer them a valued toy or tasty treat as a “swap”. Training your pet to give up items in their mouth when you ask will come in handy at times like these.

Source: Dr Katherine Macmillan, PETstock

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