Chocolate isn’t the only danger to your pets this Easter. What else to stay away from
Easter Sunday is on the horizon and so are seasonal threats to your pets. Chocolate often tops the list of dangerous holiday indulgences for animals, but what else is in your home that could harm your cat or dog?
Here are some hazardous treats and decorations to keep away from your pets this weekend so you can avoid a trip to the vet, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Chocolate galore
Be it bunnies, eggs or other shapes, chocolate in any form is toxic to both dogs and cats, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center reports. Many chocolate-related vet visits happen on Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter.
The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is, ASPCA said. Owners may notice hyperactivity, tremors and seizures in their pet if they eat chocolate.
If owners realize their pet has eaten chocolate, veterinarian Pamela Henricks advises people to contact their vet to determine if their animal has eaten a dangerous amount and needs medical attention.
“One Hershey kiss isn’t going to kill any dog or cat, but a whole Hershey bar can,” Henricks wrote on her blog. “I had a patient many years ago that got into the Easter candy stash not once, but twice, and had to be hospitalized both times. Some dogs just really want chocolate.”
Foil and plastic candy wrappers should be thrown away so animals don’t eat them either, Henricks added.
Plastic Easter grass
Artificial Easter grass is a serious hazard to dogs and cats since it can’t be ingested properly, according to the ASPCA.
“It can become lodged in the gastrointestinal tract and wreak havoc if consumed,” the ASPCA wrote in its report.
Your pet may experience vomiting, diarrhea, a decrease in appetite, lethargy and stomach pain if they eat plastic grass.
Instead of using plastic grass, pet owners can use paper strips inside Easter baskets to avoid severe ingestion issues if animals accidentally eat the decoration, the Parktown Veterinary Clinic advises.
Spring plants
What flowers will you have on the table this Easter? What about in the garden? The ASPCA warns pet owners about lilies, which are one of the most dangerous toxins for cats.
Some lilies are so dangerous that even licking the water from a vase that had the flowers could be fatal to your cat, McClatchy News previously reported.
Other spring flowers that can be dangerous to pets are tulips, daffodils and crocus flowers, McClatchy News reported.
The ASPCA provides a full list of plants toxic to pets.
Fertilizer, herbicide
With plants come pesticides, weed-killer and fertilizer, which may all contain chemicals harmful to cats and dogs.
As many people begin yard work over Easter weekend, the ASPCA advises owners to store their plant-related chemicals in a safe place where animals can’t access them.
“Always follow label instructions and wait to let your pet out again until the product has been watered in or the ground is dry,” ASPCA recommended.
If owners notice their pets ate any of the substances above, or other toxic items, they should contact their local veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 for help.
This story was originally published April 14, 2022 at 11:00 AM with the headline "Chocolate isn’t the only danger to your pets this Easter. What else to stay away from."
