Easter is a great time to celebrate with friends, family and our paw-some pets. While adorable rabbits are the go-to pets during this holiday, animals of all kinds and sizes are known to join in on the festivities. Take a look at some practical tips to follow to make sure everyone has a safe Easter holiday:
- Be on the lookout for chocolate!
While many pets are aware that dogs shouldn’t have chocolate, the Easter holiday calls for extra vigilance. A report from Pet Poison hotline reveals that calls about dogs eating chocolate see an increase of over 200% during the whole week of Easter alone. Watch out for mini eggs, chocolate bunnies, and other treats that contain chocolate.
- Throw away small pieces of trash immediately.
There’s a high chance that several small toys, candy wrappers or inflatable balloons will be littered around the area as the day goes on. This can get stuck inside a pet’s throat once swallowed and it can lead to choking, intestinal problems and other more severe health issues.
- Help your pets stay away from sugar, caffeine and alcohol.
Many candies that are commonly eaten during Easter, such as jelly beans, Cadbury eggs, and malted chocolates, are very dangerous to animals. Alcoholic drinks and those with caffeine are also toxic to pets and often results in diarrhea, difficulty breathing, vomiting and worse.
- Keep Easter baskets out of reach.
Easter baskets contain a lot of yummy treats for humans, but they also carry items that are very dangerous to pets. Make sure that pets can’t get a hold of the plastic Easter grass found in baskets because once it’s ingested, it won’t be able to pass through their digestive system. Aside from damage to their intestinal tract, pets will need surgery to get rid of the plastic.
- Easter lilies are very toxic to cats.
Easter lilies, as well as several species such as Asiatic, Day and Tiger, can cause a lot of damage to cats. Even ingesting a few leaves can result in seizures, vomiting, lethargy, appetite loss, and ultimately kidney failure.As you prepare your home for visitors, don’t forget to do the same for your beloved pets. Majority of accidents are very avoidable if the proper care is taken beforehand. Don’t forget to have your vet’s telephone number on hand in case of emergencies!
