While we humans may be all getting excited about Easter and the abundance of sweets and chocolate, please remember that chocolate is toxic and sometimes even fatal to our pets if ingested.
Reduce the risk and try to avoid leaving chocolate laying around in a place where your pet can reach it. The Easter Egg hunt is great for the adults and kids, however if you must have an Easter Egg hunt when pets are around, please remember to count all the eggs you put out in the hunt and make sure that number of eggs are again collected. A better option is to give instructions to find different things and then when found reward the adults and kids with their eggs and chocolate, that way the chocolate never has to be on the ground or in reach of your pet.
Dogs are most commonly affected by chocolate toxicity as they are very good little hunters and great at seeking out anything tasty, even if it is wrapped up, plastic wrappings are no match for the acute sense of smell of your pooch. It is important to remember that other pets too, are susceptible to the toxic effects of chocolate.
What makes Chocolate Toxic to Pets
Chocolate contains Theobromine, a caffeine derivative that cannot be metabolized by our pets. Humans can break down this substance and excrete it much more effectively than our pets.
If your pet eats chocolate you need to seek veterinary attention immediately, and they will usually be able to help, however for your hip pocket as well as your pets well being, it is not a good idea to do this, especially over Easter.
What to watch out for if you suspect your pet may have eaten chocolate.
Symptoms from any amount of chocolate ingestion usually occur within hours
Firstly hyperactivity
then tremors
then maybe racing heartbeat
then vomiting, diarrhoea
then possibly seizures
and in the worst case scenario, finally death
Yes, some chocolate is more toxic than others, generally the darker the chocolate the more toxic it is. The more cocoa the more toxic, so cooking chocolate is approximately seven times more toxic than milk chocolate.
Here is a bit of a guide to a what may be a fatal amount of chocolate for a 10kg dog, so do the sums on your dog.
70gms cooking chocolate
200 gms of sweet or dark chocolate
600gms of milk chocolate
With all this in mind, be careful and have a safe and happy Easter. If you are travelling, please remember to care for your pet too, and drive safely and enjoy the rest.
Before embarking on an Australian fun trip, it is highly advisable to go through a list of luxury pet friendly accommodations that can enhance the overall fun value of your entertainment. Your need for pet friendly places to stay directly depends on your budget. You may come across a strikingly handsome leisure deal during an off season, as compared to holiday season. However, when it comes to Australia and its wide climatic variations, you will find it jam packed with tourists all round the year.
So, if you are in a mood to make this weekend a fun filled sporty activity on Queensland or a joyous recreation in Tasmania, worry not as Australian luxury pet friendly hotels will take care of yours and your pet’s mood. The following list of luxury pet friendly services are found all across Australian hotels, resorts and dog friendly holiday parks:
A warm welcome with a welcome drink for you and a welcome snack for your pet
A flexible pet size entry regulation for example for dogs, an under 11 kgs to above 34 kgs rule is followed by many luxury pet friendly hotels
Personal hygiene kit for pets accompanied by pet body wash, nail cutter, comb and shampoo is served with an additional pet towel
Personal pet care services include spa and body wash treatments for your pets, shall you wish to relax and give your pet an extra pampering.
Freedom to roam around with your pet, including exclusive pet running areas where you’re dog or cat can enjoy the company of other pets and mingle with fellow mates
Customizable boarding kennels for your pets peaceful sleep
Baby sitting for your pet, while you enjoy the freedom to roam around with an added assurance that you have your faithful dog or loving cat with you all the time
Playful games are provided by all sorts of pet friendly accommodations right around Australia so that your pet can play and keep up the normal workout routine with an instructor or your children.
The above is only a bird’s view over what Australian luxury pet friendly places have to offer you in general. The rules may vary slightly, but on a general level, all of them go an extra mile to take really good care of your pet and render you a memorable holiday.
This story is a sad one, however it has a very happy ending, and this is the reason why we need to support dog shelters and adopt dogs where we can offer them a dog loving home. If you have an Australian story, please send them through to us so we can share.
Entertaining your dog can prove to be a cumbersome task, especially when you have a dozen other chores to attend. That is why dog friendly holiday parks have been designed all across Australia to serve varied kinds of entertainment to your loveable pet; dog.
However, please note that this service does not come free. At a nominal park entry fee, you can jump along with your Russian or Alsatian dog or hire the services of dog walkers, shall the dog friendly holiday park give such a service. The benefits of such a pet friendly park are innumerous but the following comes on top of the list:
Healthy Lifestyle for Your Pet:
Your dog is bored and you might be tempted to switch on TV or music to soothe his senses. But does this electronic entertainment really work? As a matter of fact, studies have shown that animal’s mood swings are very much like humans. Once in an open natural environment, a cranky bored pet will brighten up just as naturally as we would. So, if you are taking your pet to an outside entertainment in form of a dog friendly holiday park than you, my friend, are actually promoting his healthy lifestyle which is way better than pet grooming, manicure or pedicure!
Versatile Pet Park Entertainment:
Modern Australian dog friendly holiday parks have been engineered with modern lifestyle in mind promoting pet friendly cafes, pet friendly restaurants and elite boarding kennels all in one place. You can roam around through their vast landscape and delve into a mouthwatering treat on your way back home, without ever having to worry about thirst or hunger.
Hub of Events of Pets:
Unlike public parks that keep away pets of all kinds, dog friendly holiday parks are open to all sizes and breeds of dogs. You can do a prior booking to minimize all sorts of delays and park unavailability. Also, keeping up its fan following, dog friendly parks have become a center of dog related races, competitions and events, giving your dog an entirely new line of activities to explore.
Pet Park Facilities:
Expect modern life facilities for yourself and your pet in most of the Australian dog friendly holiday parks. From bins to benches and restaurants to Wi-Fi, these dog friendly holiday parks hold an equal appreciation for dogs and their owners.
Visit www.doggo.com.au for a detailed online guide to Australian dog friendly holiday parks.
The need to capture life’s wonderful moments establishes how much we fear to lose the moments we have in hand right now. Your pet is like your child. You would grow attached to him overtime and would want to cherish his learning and growing tall phase by taking the right moment at the right time. A cranky pet will fail to generate beautiful pet photography as compared to a soothed, happy and calm one. The following tips might prove helpful in forming a photographic bond between you and your pet:
Make a Connection with your Pet:
Just like children, pets need time in adjusting and familiarizing with the moment. This holds especially true in situations where you have hired a professional photographer to do your pet photography. Your faithful dog or bouncy cat might not feel as much at ease with an alien party as it would with you. As a matter of fact, your pet might even take you for granted and not give due attention with a camera in hand. So, in the very start of pet photography it is about making a connection with the pet, the photographer and the camera (without risk of it breaking). Get down to their eye level and do everything possible to make the pet feel at ease. The more relaxed your pet feels, the more natural your pet photography results will be.
Set Your Photographic Goals:
Know what you want from the photographic session. Do you want it to be up-close and personal or do you want some other goal out of it. For example if you are aiming to capture a sleeping pet than a portrait picture will be the best way to go about it. On the other hand, if you want more dynamic shots than get your pet in the mood. Try to organize pet photography session after his nap time, when he is fully vigilant. However, ensure that your aim do not clash with pet personality. For example you just cannot expect a Siamese cat to be up and about when lazing around is their very character!
Gather Photographic Essentials:
Unlike camera lens or stand, this would include things or people closer to the pet, like his favorite toy or chewing bone. The presence of your pet’s favorite person nearby can work wonders to his overall body language. You might want your children to be around the pet dog to get him in full swing and capture amazing real life moments.
Pet Photography Technical Tips:
A few tried and tested pet photography tips include, aiming for a full scale portrait, avoiding flash whenever possible and doing it outdoors wherever possible. A flash less shot will be best in a moderately lit up outdoors, where the pet silhouette can become easily visible to the camera eye without giving him a red eye. Use dynamic camera mode when the pet is in full action and normal mode when stationery.
In the end, capturing the right moment at the right time is the essence of perfect pet photography that you will learn overtime.
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While we humans may be all getting excited about Easter and the abundance of sweets and chocolate, please remember that chocolate is toxic and sometimes even fatal to our pets if ingested.
