by Dr. Dawn Martin, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, Internal Medicine
Easter – ah what a colorful, fun and happy holiday it is. Easter bunnies, egg hunt, baskets filled with chocolate, marshmallow chicks, sugary jellybeans and other delicious sweetness. So much excitement!
While your family is enjoying the holiday joys, be careful not to put your pets at risk by allowing them to get into the Easter goodies! Keep your beloved family companions safe.
Easter grass
Pets love anything they can chase and play with. Easter grass moves easily in the breeze, makes interesting sounds, and to your dog it is simply irresistible and must be eaten. Plastic Easter grass is not digestible, however, and may cause an obstruction, possible perforation of the intestines or create a linear foreign body. The first signs seen, aside from the material being visible from the mouth or anus, are vomiting or straining to defecate and a painful abdomen. We highly discourage you from attempting to pull out the visible grass string, as this can cause more damage if the piece is long and trapped inside the intestinal tract. Call your veterinarian or take your pet to the emergency clinic.
Candy Wrappers
Sweet-smelling candy wrappers are also very tempting to your dog, but they pose a choking or obstruction hazard if your pet eats a significant amount of them. It is best to discard any wrappers to a trash immediately.
Chocolate
Dogs are known to have a sweet tooth, a great nose, and the determination to find chocolate. The toxic components in chocolate are theobromine and caffeine, and the level of toxicity is based on the type and quantity of chocolate consumed.
Different types of chocolate have different amounts of these compounds; dark chocolate (especially baker chocolate) contains the highest concentrations and white chocolate contains the least. Symptoms of chocolate ingestion include: vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, increased body temperature, muscle tremors, rapid breathing, and rarely seizures. If there has been a large exposure, toxicity can progress to respiratory failure, cardiac arrhythmias, and death.
Most adults already know that chocolate is a toxin for pets, but it is important to make the children aware how dangerous it can be for dogs. Children know that chocolate is delicious and that sharing is important, so they have only the best of intentions when they offer a chocolatey treat to their furry friends. Act immediately if you suspect your dog ingested chocolate. Call your veterinarian or take your pet to an emergency clinic.
Easter Toys
Those teeny tiny baby chick toys and bendy bunnies may be good basket stuffers for your kids. Your dog or cat, however, may not know the difference between that cute plush Easter Bunny and their own stuffed toys. Make sure any stuffed toys that fill Easter baskets are both child and pet friendly, with eyes, ears, ribbons and other decorations that are securely fastened on, as they can become a choking or obstruction hazard. Keep all toys with small parts away from your pets.
Easter Egg Hunt
Though a favorite activity for the kids, take care to protect your pet from the hiding spots. The shiny plastic eggs may look like toys to your pets. If they chew and swallow the plastic, it can cause intestinal problems that may require surgery. After the hunt, ensure there are no leftover eggs lying around your yard.
Petting zoo and Easter baby animals
Baby chicks, bunnies and ducks are definitely the cutest Easter “accessory” of each basket. But before you decide to surprise your family with REAL animals, think twice. Not only do these cute babies grow up into large, adult animals requiring full-time care, they may carry bacterial that can be transmitted to your children and pets. It’s important to note too that according to the Examiner – 95% of baby rabbits associated with Easter presents will not make it to their first birthday. A sad fact given that the normal lifespan is 8-12 years.
Easter Lily
Last but not least: if you dog lovers also own cats, be extremely careful that they are not exposed to Easter Lilies. Easter lilies are very toxic to cats. All parts of the Easter lily can be poisonous, including the petals, the leaves, the stem and even the pollen. More importantly, a small amount can cause serious damage. Cats that ingest as few as one or two leaves, or even a small amount of pollen while grooming their fur, can suffer severe kidney failure. Signs of poisoning often develop within 6-12 hours of exposure. Early signs include vomiting, lethargy, and dehydration. Untreated, signs worsen as acute (sudden) kidney failure develops. Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your cat ingested any part of Easter lily plant as the kidney failure can be fatal.
Keep your family safe during the upcoming holiday season. Protect your children and your pets from potential hazards in order to enjoy a truly happy Easter!
In case of emergency, always contact your veterinarian or nearest animal emergency clinic.