It is a time for families to get together and the dog is usually part of all the fun too, but we need to make sure while we are having fun that we are careful not to cause any problems for the dog.

Fish hooks can be one of the issues we need to be aware of.

Dogs will stick their nose into the tackle box and these hooks easily get caught on the nose and lips, or in the mouth and rarely a hook may be further back in the dog's throat. To remove a fish hook sedation is often required.

Chocolate is toxic for dogs. It contains theobromine which dogs cannot properly breakdown. The toxicity is dose-dependent, which means the more chocolate your dog eats the worse the effects will be. Dark chocolate contains the most amount of theobromine and is therefore more toxic.

Symptoms of chocolate toxicity range from vomiting, diarrhoea and muscle tremors to seizures.

If you think your dog has eaten some of your Easter eggs or other chocolate, you should try to get them to a vet clinic as soon as possible. Your vet may be able to make your dog vomit so not as much of the chocolate is absorbed. Sometimes fluids and supportive care are needed.

The last major risk around Easter is raisins, found in a lot of hot cross buns. If they are eaten by your dog these can cause kidney failure.

Some dogs are more affected than others and there is no exact dose that is toxic. If you suspect your dog has eaten raisins (or grapes) then take them to your vet who can induce vomiting and discuss further supportive care if it is needed.