Discussing The Many Easter-Related Hazards That Can Affect Your Pets And How To Keep Them Safe From Such Hazards
Spring is in the air! With the spring season comes the iconic spring holiday called Easter Sunday. Even for those that are not religious, Easter Sunday is a long-standing tradition in most homes. While Easter is a fun and exciting time for children and families, it can be a dangerous time for pets.
Like most holidays, Easter Sunday comes with its own fair share of hazards and dangers to your pet. Thankfully, we here at Stay At Home Pet Services have a lot of experience when it comes to pet care & safety.
Therefore, this article will discuss some commonly found Easter hazards and how to protect your pets from them.
Easter Candy
One of the most common traditions in Easter is the gifting of Easter candy. While this is usually meant for kids, adults often partake as well. However, candy is very unhealthy for pets (especially cats and dogs). The main ingredient in most candy is artificial sugar, which can’t be properly digested by pets.
Additionally, these sugary candies can have other bad side effects on your pets such as restlessness, lack of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea. Therefore, always keep Easter candy out of your pets’ reach. Keep all Easter candies on a high shelf or locked away in a cabinet.
Additionally, supervise children when they are handling candy so they don’t accidentally give your pets candy or leave it lying around for pets to accidentally eat.
Easter Chocolate
While candy is a popular part of Easter tradition, nothing is more traditional on Easter than chocolate. However, chocolate is very toxic to both dogs and cats. According to VCA Hospitals, chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine as well as caffeine. Both of which can’t properly be metabolized by dogs or cats.
Therefore, similar to Easter candy, we recommend keeping all Easter chocolate out of your pets’ reach. This includes keeping it on a high shelf or storing it in a locked cabinet. Additionally, just like the candy, always supervise children when they are handling Easter candy. They could accidentally leave some lying around for a pet to have access to.
Should your pet consume chocolate or candy, contact your veterinarian immediately. Also, you can contact the Pet Poison Helpline for further assistance. Their phone number is 855-764-7661. An $85 incident fee applies.
The Wrappings
It’s not just the candy and chocolate you have to worry about, but the material it’s wrapped in as well. When pets get into Easter candy and chocolate, they usually don’t bother to separate the wrappings. Instead, they eat it all together. This can be very problematic and dangerous for your pets.
Most candy wrappings are made out of plastic, aluminum, or cellophane. All of which can’t be properly digested by pets. In many cases, these wrappings can get stuck along pets’ digestive tract (small intestine or large intestine). This often leads to life-threatening bowel-obstructions.
Even after the candy and chocolate has been eaten, be mindful about the wrappings. Always throw them away immediately and don’t leave any lying around for your pets to eat or play with.
Decorations
Another common tradition of Easter Sunday is putting up decorations. Like most other holidays, holiday decorations pose a risk to pets. Whether it’s lights, plants, or plastic eggs, keep them out of your pet’s reach. Most Easter decorations are pretty and colorful which may attract your pet’s interest.
Keep all Easter decorations on high shelves or hung high enough on the walls where your pets can’t reach. Also, consider utilizing more outdoor decorations. This will make them less accessible to your pets and reduce the chances of them breaking, chewing, or eating them.
Easter Dinner
Lastly, many families make it a point to have an Easter family dinner on or around Easter. While this Easter tradition brings together friends and family, it also poses some health risks to your pets. Pets, especially the cute ones, are very good at begging for food. As a result, they often will be given table scraps.
If you’re hosting Easter family dinner or bringing your pets to an Easter family dinner, make it clear to everyone that your pet is not to be given table scraps. Most people foods contain spices or artificial ingredients that pets can’t properly digest. This can lead to symptoms like upset stomach, diarrhea, and/or vomiting. Essentially, avoid giving your pets Easter dinner table scraps entirely.
Hire A Pet Sitter Today!
Pets need regular stimulation to stay happy and mentally healthy. If you don’t have the time to regularly stimulate your pets, then consider hiring a professional pet sitter! Here at Stay At Home Pet Services, we offer quality pet sitting services at competitive prices. We have over 10 years of experience, our sitters are certified in pet first aid & CPR, and we love all pets as if they were our own.
We are located in Cincinnati, OH and service the following areas of East Walnut Hills, Hyde Park, Mt Lookout, Oakley, Norwood, Kennedy Heights, Pleasant Ridge, Tusculum, East End, Mariemont, Fairfax, Madisonville, Mt Washington, Dillonvale, Deer Park, Silverton, Kenwood, Madeira, Indian Hill, and Anderson Township. Click here to become a client today or give us a call at 513-706-7702. Be sure to check us out on Facebook and Instagram too! We post everyday, so make sure you follow us so you don’t miss out on any adorable pet pictures.