Chocolate eggs and other treats left around the house at Easter can be a big temptation to four legged friends, however unlike most people they can become extremely unwell if they eat large amounts of chocolate which is intended for humans.

The toxic chemical within chocolate is called Theobromine and the amount contained within chocolate varies according to the type and quality of chocolate. Dark chocolate usually contains high levels of the toxic chemical, compared with white chocolate which contains comparatively little. Even a small amount of high quality dark chocolate eaten by a dog can cause clinical signs such as hyperexcitability and restlessness, vomiting, tremors and convulsions.

While M&S Pet Insurance policyholders have access to a 24-hour advice line, 365 days a year, meaning that if the worst happens this Easter they know they have support at the end of the phone, as it is much better to avoid the problem in the first place.

Vetfone nurses provide concerned pet owners with immediate advice on an animal’s condition and can decide whether emergency medical treatment is required.

Vetfone Deputy Operations Manager, Clare Scantlebury, said: “Easter is a great excuse to indulge in all things chocolaty, but dog owners should think carefully about storing chocolate eggs in a safe place out of the reach of hungry dogs.  The potential danger depends on the amount of chocolate eaten, the type of chocolate and the size of the dog. If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate and is showing signs of illness, seek medical advice immediately.”

David Wells, M&S Head of Insurance, said: “It’s not just the chocolate at Easter which can cause illness and injury in pets. We have seen claims when dogs have eaten small novelty toys from Easter eggs and shredded plastic used as packing material in Easter baskets.  Small toys may cause internal damage or an intestinal blockage which can be life threatening. Ideally keep these objects well out of reach of your pets and supervise your dogs closely if children are playing with the toys.”

It has recently been reported that the obesity levels of dogs in the UK has reached epidemic proportions. It seems that Britons are feeding their pets an atrocious diet of junk food. Fatty foods, such as cheese, chips and crisps, are being given to dogs as treats but they are creating severe health problems in our Dogs. Pets are increasingly suffering from diseases associated with obesity in humans. Malaise, asthma, diabetes and heart disease are becoming more and more common amongst our household pets. Some owners are even feeding dogs chocolate, which can cause fatal heart attacks for our canine brothers.

There have been recent calls for pet owners who over-feed their pets to be prosecuted under the Cruelty to Animals Act (1876). Like humans, good health is the result of a balanced diet. Here are some tips when considering your dog’s diet.

Milk is a fantastic source of Calcium but beware. A dog only needs a moderate amount of milk and therefore milk should never substitute water in a dog’s diet as this may cause severe diarrhoea. Puppies and pregnant dogs do need extra calcium in their diet but this can be added to their diet by other foods such as, green vegetables and fish. If you do give your dog fish make sure that it is cooked thoroughly as the consumption of raw fish has been attributed to vitamin deficiencies in dogs. A further result is possible abnormal posture, loss of appetite, weakness, and even seizure.

The protein content that is recommended for dogs is 20-30 percent. You should include protein-rich foods such as Chicken, Lamb, and Salmon. Dog’s also need fats and oils in their diet for taste and for digestive reasons. Egg’s are also an excellent source of protein but any foods which contain raw eggs should be avoided as this may lead to Dermatitis, loss of hair and poor growth in your pet.

Carbohydrates are also important to provide energy and fibre to improve the digestive capacity of the dog.

Dogs, like humans, should be fed at scheduled times at regular intervals. If you do give your dog treats be careful. Keep a check on what treats you are giving your dog and adjust their ‘standard’ diet accordingly. Don’t feed your dog table scraps, as it will result in the dog developing the bad habit of begging. Remember a Dog is smaller than a human. One chip is the equivalent of a whole portion of chips.

Pet shop dog-food is an easy way to provide your dog with the nutrients that it requires, but be sure to buy high-quality dog food that is appropriate for your dog’s weight, breed and age.

This advice is not all-encompassing but it provides a good framework for ensuring that your dog is receiving its essential nutrients without becoming obese. The important message is that, like humans, Dogs need a balanced diet in order to lead happy healthy lives but always remember that dogs are not humans and react differently to certain foods.

James Wellbeloved
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1. Look for good value - balance of quality and price
2. Go for products with a longer shelf life to reduce waste
3. Buy locally sourced products

Which is why the country’s fastest growing natural pet food company, Pets’ Kitchen, is proving resilient to the credit crunch. Established in 2005, and showing a 300% sales increase in the past 18 months, Joe & Jack’s range of natural foods were the inspiration of TV vet Joe Inglis after seeing the benefits that good quality, natural home-cooked recipes had for his dog Jack, and patients at the surgery.

But, in these times of credit crunch, don’t confuse premium quality with premium price. Honest or ‘real’ pet food - free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives - does not need to break the bank. Indeed, a price comparison between Joe & Jack’s Complete Fresh Chicken & Rice Dinner with Cesar…A Little More Refined Select Recipes Dog Food reveals that honestly natural is honestly cheaper - by the big bite of £580 a year! - (Based on recommended intake of both for a 10Kg dog at recommended retail prices November 2008)

As a UK dog food supplier, all Joe & Jack’s products are made in the UK, using local produce wherever possible, and are packed full of healthy natural ingredients with absolutely no artificial additives. They are tasted, and approved, by Joe’s dog Jack and his friends and never, ever tested on unwilling animals.

And it doesn’t stop there! Not only healthy, natural and competitively priced, Joe & Jack’s Complete Fresh Chicken & Rice Dinner is the UK’s first mainstream pet food to use only FREE RANGE chicken meat. Joe & Jack’s Free Range Chicken Dinners and Joe & Jack’s Fresh Lamb Dinners are exclusively available now in 331 Tesco stores, for 6 months, priced at £1.49 for 395g.

Joe & Jack’s fresh dinners are delicious wet complete meals for dogs, made using fresh meat, vegetables and rice that is simply minced together and steam-cooked in the tray. The trays can be kept at room temperature for up to a year, thanks to the innovative pressure-cooking process that seals all the goodness in whilst keeping bugs firmly out and, once opened, can be kept in the fridge for 3-5 days. Each 395g tray will keep a small (10kg) dog full and happy for a whole day.

Find out more about Joe & Jack’s at www.petskitchen.co.uk

There are many holistic, natural and healthy food products which are ideally nutritionally balanced, and contain wholesome ingredients with certainly beneficial for your pet. It is a common misconception that all these pet brands strive to provide essential nutrients for your pet. There are some of them, which are truly beneficial to spruce up the health of your pet and are a complete guide for your buddy. You always have to be extra cautious and go that extra mile to ensure that your pet gets nutrition which he is deserving of. You may always have your pet’s best interests in mind, but may not ending up making the appropriate decision for him. You may find some of the best dog food brands online, and you can definitely go through them to eventually reach the right conclusion for your pet pal.

Go Natural

Some of the best dog food recipes are the ones which are home made and natural, as they supply your hairy fellow with the right proportion of carbohydrates, proteins and vitamin, which are highly essential for his growth and development. A healthy dog is surely a happy one, and in order o make him feel happy and content, it is quite an easy task!

Dog food must be complete and balanced, and should have minimum by products. It should have no starch in the form of flour, corn, or wheat. It should have less chemical preservatives or artificial colouring, sugar and flavour. Your dog should indulge in quality food, with all the essential ingredients found in milk, meat, and eggs. For the vegetarian dogs, they can be provided enough amounts of protein through lentils, vegetables, eggs, Soya and other supplements. In order that your pet obtains the optimum health possible, the food should be fresh, natural and tasty for the palate! A superior and unmistakably beneficial blend of minerals, vitamins, proteins and antioxidants helps your doggie’s health in the long run, and keeps him fit, active and healthy. Harvest fresh fruits, human top notch quality all natural meats and other select farm foods are essential, beneficial and effective foods that make up your dog’s health. Tasty rewards that you’ll hurl up at your furry fellow do result in positive reinforcement, and will keep him happy. They support your dog with a healthy brain and a loving heart.

It is definitely not an easy task to browse through the right ingredients all the time, and select food for your dog which ahs the maximum benefits. In short, taking care of your dog’s diet requirements as you’ve never taken of your own is a big deal; however what you get in return is simply priceless!

Choosing the right kind of food is the first step towards your dog’s good and healthy life. There have been reports about “dog deaths” due to commercial food, but this can be prevented if you feed him with proper nutrition. If you deprive your dog of the essential nutrition, then he can become weak, and may also be fatal. Besides, the nutrition in the commercial food, the preservatives should also be considered. You should be aware of the kind of preservatives, because they can also destroy your dog health. For this, one has to read the dog food label on the packet of the dog food. The quantity of food will de decided on the weight and the breed of the dog. The food available in the market have food products according to the dog breed like adult dog, puppy large breed, puppy small breed, pregnant dog, lactating puppies and so on.

Surprisingly, home made food has great nutritive value and is much cheaper. Hence, you should take some time off to prepare home made food. Along with all this, home made food is toxic free. Vegetables, pasta, rice, cereals, any form of protein, carbohydrates, fats vitamins and minerals are best for your dogs. Listed below are few more reasons why people are now opting for home made food:

You known what exactly you are feeding the dog.
You can count the calorie intake and in turn maintain the weight of your dog.
Home made food prevent other infections and problems such as shedding, gas, unhealthy coat, smelly fur, etc…
It is a lot cheaper than the food products available in the market.
Dogs normally love freshly home cooked food.

One thing you should remember is that not all food which is good for humans is good for dogs. Hence few things like, chocolate, raisins, etc. should be completely avoided.

Another type of food is organic pet food. The organic pet food is said to give 95% organic needs, which is similar to the requirement of a human. Besides the nutrition, it doesn’t contain pesticide and any other preservatives which are not good for the dog. Organic food makes use of natural preservatives like vitamin C and E. organic foods are little expensive than commercial food, but are healthier for your dog.

The main aim is to achieve complete and balanced diet without over feeding your dog. So whichever food you use make sure that the requirements of your dogs are fulfilled and that he is not left hungry and under fed.