- Crowds can be stressful for your pet – If you are hosting Easter festivities in your home, consider crating your dog and keeping your cat in a bedroom to minimize their stress level. Feed your pet and play with them before company comes. If your pet isn’t accustomed to children, a busy dinner gathering is not the suitable time to introduce it.
- Don’t forget where you’ve hidden the Easter eggs! – Plastic (or real) eggs could be ingested by your dog and lead to intestinal upset. Stuffed toys, balloons and small plastic objects (including artificial grass in Easter baskets) are potential hazards to a pet that views them as its personal chew toys.
- Keep candy and chocolate out of your pet’s reach – Chocolate is poisonous to dogs and cats. Candies with sugar-free sweetener (known as xylitol) is also toxic. Excessive amounts of sugar or caffeine in any candy can be dangerous to your pet.
- Do not bring Easter lilies into a house with cats – Even in very small quantities, this plant is extremely toxic to kitties. Consider the safety of your pets before bringing potted plants or cut flowers into your home.
- Human food is for humans only – Many cats and dogs develop serious tummy trouble, such as vomiting and diarrhea, from eating fatty table scraps. Uncooked dough and salted ham can both be toxic to your pet. Bones should be carefully wrapped up and disposed of to prevent your pet from getting into them. Alcohol can make animals quite sick as well. Your guests may not know that Fluffy shouldn’t be offered table food.
- Baby bunnies, chicks and ducklings may seem like the perfect Easter pet, but these babies will grow into large adult animals that require full-time care for a number of years. Before adopting a pet, it is important to research that animal’s needs and its average lifespan. Having a rabbit can be a 10 year commitment.
Your pets depend on you to keep their environment safe. Taking a few extra steps can keep your pets safe and happy during the Easter holidays.