Happy Easter! Pet hazards to watch out for
When you’re excited about a holiday like Easter, it can be easy to overlook potential dangers for our pets. This is why the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Centre (APCC) put together this list of potential hazards so you can be prepared!
Top Four Easter Hazards for Pets
- 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.
- 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.
- Plants. There are a number of plants that can be harmful to your pet, but during Easter the main ones to look out for are Lilies and bulbs in bloom in spring. The APCC says exposure can result in kidney injury and gastrointestinal upset. See our fact sheet Poisonous Plants and Flowers to learn more.
- Fertilizers and Herbicides. Spring is high time to start gardening and yard work! Fertilizers and herbicides don’t cause serious problems for pets, but the APCC advises to keep pets indoors when applying the products. It’s also advisable to wait to let your pet out again until the ground is dry.