Easter Safety Tips for Pet Parents

The Easter holiday is only a few days away—whether or not you’re celebrating with family and friends, it’s important to be aware of the several pet hazards present around this time of year. Here, a Niagara Falls veterinarian lists the most common offenders.

Did you know that all parts of the lily plant can be highly toxic to cats? Ingesting even small amounts of the flower, stem, or leaves of the lily could result in vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, and worse. Keep Easter Lilies out of your cat’s reach, or eliminate them from your home entirely to be safe. Other springtime plants like tulips, daffodils, ivy, and rhododendron are also dangerous, so take care to restrict your pet’s access.

Of course, chocolate is highly poisonous to pets and should be stored safely away at all times. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which are harmful to pets’ systems. Keep that chocolate Easter bunny off of the kitchen table, and put all chocolate goodies in sealed containers inside cabinets or closets.

Many candies, gum, and baked goods are sweetened with an artificial sugar known as xylitol. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and other severe symptoms after ingestion, so keep your cat or dog far away. It’s safest to put all candies, gums, and baked treats in a closed cabinet where pets can’t reach.

Your kids’ Easter baskets undoubtedly contain the aforementioned chocolates and candies, but there’s another danger in them that you probably haven’t considered: the plastic grass that lines the basket. These fluttering strands will surely look like a fun toy to a curious cat or dog, but they could cause gastrointestinal upset if swallowed, or even wrap around the intestines. Don’t let your pet use this fake grass as a play toy.

If you’re sitting down with family to have a nice holiday dinner, don’t let anyone give your pet table scraps. Too much fatty food will cause an upset stomach, and many human foods are actually poisonous—onions, garlic, coffee, grapes, raisins, avocado, salt, tea leaves, and alcoholic substances are a few of the most common hazards.

Consult your Niagara Falls veterinarian for more helpful Easter safety tips, and ask about other hazards that may present themselves in the springtime.