Easter Hazards For Pets

Easter Hazards For Pets

Easter is an exciting time of year, with lots of celebrations, decorations, and not forgetting an extended weekend, thanks to the Easter bank holiday!

When spending more time at home to join in with the festivities, your pet needs to come into consideration, as unfortunately, Easter can bring risks to their health and safety.

Here are some of the main Easter hazards to look out for, to keep your pet safe.

Chocolate

Easter and chocolate go hand in hand, with a lot of Easter egg hunts taking place and chocolate being consumed. Many pet owners will know that chocolate should never be eaten by their pets, as chocolate contains cocoa, which consists of a toxic substance called theobromine. Even if a small amount of chocolate is ingested, it can be dangerous for your pet. Keep chocolate well out of reach, and supervise your pet if you have friends or family over to celebrate, they might try to pinch a piece or two!

Signs to look out for:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Excessive panting and thirst

Symptoms can vary between each pet; if you’re concerned your pet has eaten chocolate, take them to the vet immediately.

Decorations

Decorations are great to look at, providing it goes no further than that with your pet! There’s a risk of your pet getting tangled up in Easter decorations, as well as them being a choking hazard if they try to swallow them. Please be mindful of where you’re placing your Easter decorations, along with the level of risk they pose to your pet.

Hot Crossed Buns

Hot Crossed Buns are a key part of the Easter menu. As tasty as they are, they contain an extremely dangerous ingredient, raisins. As little as one raisin can be fatal to dogs and cats, and there’s no rhyme or reason why some breeds are more impacted by others. If you’re worried that your pet has eaten any product containing raisins, it’s imperative you take them to get checked by their vet!

Roast Lunch

One of the best things about the Easter holidays is of course a traditional Sunday lunch! There are some items on your plate that you shouldn’t let your dog or cat try to take a bite of, such as stuffing. Stuffing contains garlic and onion, which are both poisonous to cats and dogs. If you’re feeling overly generous this Easter, perhaps give them an extra pet-safe treat or two. It’s best to avoid any human food unless you know they are safe for your pet to eat and are not coated in any harmful ingredients.

Insects and Plants

As Easter takes place during  springtime, you’ll notice an increase of different flowers and plants appearing in the warmer weather. This also comes with many insects emerging to feed from the flowers. Be wary of flowers such as daffodils, crocuses, and tulips, which can cause illness in your pet if eaten. Some pets such as horses can develop allergic reactions just by touching certain flowers!

It’s advised to check your pets often for insect bites and stings, as they could end up in a spot of bother when out and about in the fields! If you’re unsure whether a plant or flower can be poisonous to your pet, it’s best to conduct some research, and always reach out to your vet if in doubt.

We hope you have a wonderful time celebrating Easter with your furry, feathery, and scaly friends!

The Petcover Group team.