Top Easter Hazards for Your Pet
As Easter comes hopping around the corner, your pet will likely take part in your family’s celebration. This springtime holiday comes as a welcome gathering after a dreary, chilly winter, but the festivities can come to a screeching halt if your pet encounters a holiday hazard. Prevent a trip to the veterinary emergency room by avoiding these top Easter hazards:
- Easter grass — Although pretty, Easter grass is similar to glitter—impossible to fully clean up and eradicate from your home. Unfortunately, your pet may be intrigued by this basket decoration, and nibble on stray grass strands. Cats, in particular, tend to eat string and thread, which can get tied up in their intestinal tract, and become a linear foreign body.
- Chocolate and candy — Easter ranks right up there with Halloween and Christmas for hoards of candy and chocolate. Both of these sweet treats can be hazardous to pets, especially if xylitol is used in place of sugar. The foil and plastic wrappers also pose a threat.
- Table scraps — Juicy Easter ham, buttery mashed potatoes, and rich gravy should only grace your table, not your pet’s food dish. Although delicious, these table scraps are high in fat, which can lead to a potentially life-threatening case of pancreatitis in your pet. Opt for healthier options, such as fresh fruits and veggies, or a small bite of lean meat, as treats for your pet.
- Easter lilies — These gorgeous flowers may look beautiful in the center of your table, but to cats, they are extremely toxic, and can be deadly. Every single part of the flower is hazardous to your feline friend, who can suffer from severe, irreversible kidney failure if she eats less than a single leaf, or grooms pollen off her fur, and she is not treated early enough.
- Eggs — Hard-boiled and plastic eggs can harm your pet in various ways, so ensure you count the number of eggs you hide during your egg hunt, and check that all have been picked up. Hard-boiled eggs can spoil after a few days outdoors, which can cause your dog gastrointestinal issues, if she hunts one down, while a plastic egg can also make her ill, if crushed and eaten.
Holidays are a time to be enjoyed with family and friends. If your pet gets into mischief during the Easter celebration, contact us, so we can help your pet, and you can get back to appreciating family time.