The Easter Bunny is on his way and about to make his deliveries. This is a great time to remind you to keep ALL chocolate out of paw's reach.

Our clever canines are designed to seek out any morsel of chocolate - big or small, wrapped or unwrapped!

The problem ingredient for our pooches is the derivative of caffeine in chocolate (called theobromine). Unfortunately dogs have trouble digesting theobromine and ingestion leads to: 

• Hyperactivity
• Tremors, panting and a racing heart
• Vomiting and diarrhoea
• Seizures

Theobromine ingestion can be fatal in some dogs. 

As a general rule, the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is - so keep that cooking chocolate safely hidden away.

It's best to call us immediately if your dog has ingested ANY amount of  chocolate. In most cases, if we are able to make your dog vomit we can prevent any nasty side effects. 

Don't forget - sultanas and raisins can cause acute kidney problems in dogs so you'll also need to keep hot cross buns off the menu this Easter.

The summer storm season is now behind us although we are all hoping to see a few storms soon to bring some wet to the very dry landscape.

Debi Coleman, The Dog Lady, Delta Accredited Training and Behaviour Specialist and our very own Puppy Pre School Trainer explains how you can help if your pet is scared by storms. 

Thunderstorms can be very frightening for dogs. They may also be scared of other loud noises like fireworks, gunshots, cars backfiring etc but this is not always the case.

Many dogs will dig out of their yards and escape during thunderstorms putting them at risk of injuring themselves, being hit by cars or getting lost.

Dogs will often sense a storm coming long before their owners hear anything. This could be due to their acute senses of smell and hearing, changes in atmospheric pressure and/or changes in outside temperature.

Dogs in the wild will find a safe quiet place to hide during thunderstorms and our pet dogs will try to do the same. Managing your dog's environment is key to helping them in these situations.

Your dog will want to be as close as possible to you if you are at home.  Allowing him to sit next to you or lie quietly at your feet will make him feel less anxious. Remain calm and quiet and reward calm behaviour when he is near you.

If you are not at home, providing an enclosure inside the house such as a crate or laundry area will also make him feel safe.

For outside dogs, set up an area in a shed or large kennel where your dog can hide until the storm is over.
Somewhere quiet and dark with a comfortable bed is ideal.

Some of the signs your dog may exhibit when feeling anxious during storms (and at other times ) may include panting, pacing, barking, shaking, hiding, whining and jumping up. Dogs are often called 'bad dogs' when they are anxious so understanding your dog's body language is the first step to being able to help him and be prepared.

Aside from managing the environment, placing a snug wrap on your dog will make him feel safe - like swaddling a new born baby. Thunder Shirts have been designed specifically for use during storms but even
a snug fitting T-shirt will help (www.thundershirt.com)

Talk to your Vet about purchasing some pheromones which have been proven to be effective in calming fearful dogs. Adaptil spray on a bandanna and bedding may be very beneficial. If your dog's behaviour is
extreme your Vet may even recommend anti-anxiety drugs for use during thunderstorms (www.adaptil.com/au)

Desensitising your dog to loud noises can often help. Thunder and other noises can be played at a low level initially, gradually increasing the sounds as your dog becomes accustomed to them. Recordings and Cd's can be purchased online. 'Through a Dogs Ear' has a wonderful range available for desensitisation and anxiety (throughadogsear.com)

Its important to keep personal information up to date so your dog can be returned to you if he escapes.  Remember to notify your local Council and Vet of any change of telephone number and/or address. They can also update your details on the NSW Companion Animals Register at the same time.

For the best chance of being reunited with your pet, it is recommended they are  also registered on a national database.  It is a nominal cost and can be arranged through your vet.

Dogs and cats love to investigate everything with their noses, mouths and paws including buzzing insects! This makes the nose, mouth and paws prime spots for bee and wasp stings.

In most cases, there will be mild swelling and tenderness at the sting site. You should try remove the tiny stinger as quickly as possible to stop the venom spreading (although this can be hard in the fur!).

You can scrape the stinger out with a credit card. This is better than using your fingers or tweezers as the venom sac may rupture and release more irritating venom.

Apply a cold compress (damp washcloth) to reduce swelling. If your pet is licking the area constantly or is in pain, phone us for an appointment and we will give your pet an antihistamine injection.

When does your pet need emergency care?

Seek veterinary advice immediately if your dog is having trouble breathing (this sometimes occurs if the swelling is inside the mouth or near the trachea) or seems to be in pain. 

Some dogs and cats may be severely allergic to bee stings. These pets may go into anaphylactic shock (and even die) if they don’t receive immediate veterinary attention.

Look out for:

• vomiting within 5-10 minutes post sting
• pale coloured gums
• collapse

These pets need urgent care with intravenous fluids and steroid injections. They will be even more sensitive to stings in the future and need careful veterinary management.

To help prevent bee stings, keep your pet away from flowering trees and plants (especially ground cover). Don't leave fallen fruit, meat and uneaten pet food around and cover rubbish and compost bins - all of these are attractive to European wasps.