Easter brings baskets, egg hunts, family meals and spring flowers. Many of these traditions include items that can be dangerous to pets. With a little planning, you can keep the celebration fun and avoid a holiday trip to the emergency clinic.
Chocolate and candy
Chocolate eggs and bunnies are an Easter staple. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, a racing heart, tremors and seizures in dogs, depending on the type and amount. Dark and baking chocolate are generally more dangerous than milk chocolate.
Sugar-free candy and gum may contain xylitol, which is very dangerous for dogs and can cause a rapid drop in blood sugar and liver damage. Foil and plastic wrappers can cause intestinal blockages if swallowed.
- Keep baskets on high shelves or in closed rooms.
- Count plastic eggs before and after an egg hunt so none are left in the yard.
- Remind children and guests not to share candy with pets.
Basket grass and small toys
Plastic Easter grass is especially tempting to cats, who love to play with string-like objects. If swallowed, it can cause a dangerous linear foreign body, where the material bunches up the intestines. Signs can include vomiting, lack of appetite and lethargy. Consider paper shred or a cloth lining instead, and keep small toys, plastic eggs and ribbons out of reach.
If you see string, grass or ribbon hanging from your pet’s mouth or rear end, do not pull it. Contact your veterinarian right away.
Lilies and spring flowers
Easter lilies and many other lilies are extremely toxic to cats. Even small amounts of pollen, petals, leaves or vase water can cause kidney failure. Homes with cats should avoid these flowers entirely. Spring bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and hyacinths can upset stomachs and cause other problems, especially if dogs dig up and eat the bulbs. Check the ASPCA plant database before bringing arrangements home.
The holiday meal
- Ham and fatty foods can upset the stomach and have been associated with pancreatitis in dogs.
- Bones can splinter or cause blockages.
- Onions, garlic and chives can damage red blood cells in dogs and cats.
- Grapes and raisins, including in hot cross buns, can cause kidney injury in dogs.
- Yeast dough can expand in the stomach and produce alcohol.
Secure trash cans and clear the table promptly. A busy house with guests is an easy time for a pet to slip through a door, so make sure ID tags and microchip information are current, and give pets a quiet room if the gathering is lively.
If something goes wrong
If you think your pet has eaten something dangerous, contact your veterinarian, an emergency clinic or an animal poison control service promptly. Have packaging handy and estimate how much was eaten and when. Do not induce vomiting unless a professional instructs you. This article is general information only.
