Easter is just over a week off: it’s next Sunday. Many people will be gathering with their loved ones to enjoy delicious feasts, and perhaps partake in a traditional Easter Egg hunt. Like any other holiday, the spring festivity does present some specific hazards to our furry companions. A Aurora, CO veterinarian goes over some of them in this article.
Plants
Easter bouquets can make a cheery, colorful centerpiece, and are a great way to welcome spring back into your home. However, many of the flowers that are often included in those pretty arrangements are toxic to our furry friends. Lilies, for instance, can be deadly to cats. Some other unsafe plants include tulips, daffodils, and oleanders. (Tip: the ASPCA has a great resource on this here.) Keep in mind that even non-toxic plants can become unsafe if treated with chemicals, such as fertilizers, or decorated with little flags or figurines, which can themselves be choking hazards.
Food
Your furry friend may very well perk up when they notice that delicious smells coming from the kitchen. You can offer Fido and Fluffy something special, but stick with safe options. Most types of meat, fish, and poultry are fine, as long as they are thoroughly cooked and have had the skin, bones, and fat removed. However, ham—a popular Easter main course—has a lot of fat and salt, and should only be fed very, very sparingly. Those chocolate eggs and bunnies are also unsafe. Chocolate is toxic to pets, and can be fatal to them in quite small doses. Other hazardous foods include grapes and raisins, avocados, raw dough and yeast, and alcohol. Ask your vet for more information.
Decorations
Keep your playful pet in mind when you decorate. Anything that is stringy or ropy, such as garlands, light strings, or the fake grass you find in Easter baskets, is unsafe. Small figurines, such as little plastic bunnies and eggs, are dangerous as well.
Easter Eggs
Hosting an Easter egg hunt? Make sure you find all the undiscovered eggs before Fido does. Cooked eggs spoil quickly, so your canine pal may get quite the stomachache if he were to try to eat one.
Parasites
The return of warm weather also means the return of parasites. Make sure FIdo and Fluffy are current on their preventative care!
Happy Easter! Please contact us, your local Aurora, CO animal clinic, anytime!
