Happy Easter! Safety tips, bunny adoption, and animal-grams

by | General Pet Care |

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photo credit: BC Gov Photos Rabbit owners warned about deadly rabbit virus via photopin (license)

Easter is just around the corner! As you get ready for a weekend with family and friends, here is some information you may find useful.

Top Four Easter Hazards for Pets

  1. Chocolate. According to the APCC, most exposures to chocolate they get calls for happen around holidays like Halloween, Christmas and Easter. The dangers of chocolate include; gastrointestinal upset, pancreatitis, stimulation to the nervous

    system (hyperactivity, tremors and seizures) and elevation in heart rate. The darker the chocolate is, the lesser the likelihood it will harm your pet. Other ingredients the APCC suggests to keep out of your pet’s reach include raisins, macadamia nuts, xylitol and alcohol.

  2. Plastic Easter Grass. Pets aren’t able to absorb plastic Easter grass, so when consumed, the material can lodge in their gastrointestinal tract and cause serious problems. Signs for concern the APCC notes includes vomiting, diarrhea, decrease in appetite, lethargy, and stomach pain.
  3. … Check out the full blog to read more!

Adopting a bunny

If you are considering adopting, it’s important to remember that a pet is a long-term commitment, and your whole family needs to be prepared for it!

Here are some tips from our blog, 9 Things to know before adopting a bunny – to give you an idea of things you need to think through with your family:

1. Rabbits aren’t the best starter pets for young children

Rabbits are quite delicate and frighten easily. If a rabbit isn’t handled correctly, the rabbit may kick, bite or scratch out of fear. When being picked up, rabbits need full support on their front and hindquarters, otherwise they can seriously injure their spine. Never pick up a rabbit by their ears as this is very painful and cruel.

2. Not all rabbits get along

Before getting a second rabbit, it’s important that the two rabbits meet on neutral ground to make sure they get along. Most shelters have an area where you can introduce the two animals. Rabbits that are housed in the same cage need to be spayed/neutered to reduce aggressive behaviour and mating.

See tips 3-9 on the full blog post.

Animal-grams that give back!

This Easter, spread the love by sending someone you care about one of these adorable animal-grams!

Personalize your very own bunny, kitten or puppy-gram e-card to send to family and friends. By making your donation, you’re giving an animal in need a second chance at a happy life! Visit pawsandgive.ca to send yours today.

Testimonial

As an animal lover all the work you do

As an animal lover all the work you do to help ensure that every dog and cat can find their forever home that is filled with love is greatly appreciated.

-Louie