5 Tips to keep your pet safe this Easter

Easter is a special time of year when families and friends come together, celebrate and eat some good food. It’s a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with your pet, go on big walks in the long-awaited sunshine or just cosy up on the sofa. However, it’s crucial that we are aware of the dangers that pose a threat to our beloved furry friends on this holiday.

On average, April sees a 54 per cent increase in dogs being poisoned by chocolate compared to other times of the year, making it the second-highest month for claims after the Christmas period. 

To ensure Easter is a happy and safe time for you and your pet, Bella & Duke’s Chief Veterinary Consultant, Brendan Clarke lists his five top tips for making Easter safe for your pet, including which Easter foods and springtime plants they should be avoiding.

Credit: Beo88

Chocolate and Easter go hand in hand, it’s a wonderful time of year where we get to indulge in our sweet tooth and have copious amounts of easter eggs! However, chocolate and other sweets are no-go for our pets. Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine which is toxic and extremely difficult for dogs and cats to metabolise.

Credit: DronG

A beautiful roast dinner is synonymous with Easter and arguably one of the best parts! It’s only natural when your pup is giving you those big eyes that you are tempted to share some of your food so they can join in on the festivities.

However, you must refrain—giving your pet scraps of fatty roast pork or ham can lead to lots of problems such as abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, fever, loss of appetite, feeling lethargic, dehydration and in more severe cases, pancreatitis.

This doesn’t mean they need to miss out—a couple of their favourite Bella & Duke treats will be a much healthier and safer option with just as much taste!

Credit: Firn

An Easter egg hunt around the house or garden is a really fun family activity to do and often a tradition in many households. During the hunt, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your pet so they don’t go looking themselves and eat any of the chocolate goodies. With their amazing noses, your dog has the upper hand or paw! Also, check all the eggs have been found so your pup can’t stumble across them later.

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Easter is a wonderful time; winter is in the rear-view mirror and we’re starting to welcome warmer days. It’s a great opportunity to get outside and let your dog run about in nature. With this, it’s important to keep in mind the increase of fleas and ticks in warmer weather and the risk of your furry friend bringing some home in their coat.

Symptoms include scratching, dark specks in fur, bites, and hair loss—especially around the back/tail area. Regularly check your pet for fleas by combing them with a fine-tooth comb over a white sheet and keeping them nice and clean!

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Easter is a beautiful time of year with spring flowers and bulbs in full bloom, but make sure you keep them well out of reach of your furry friend, particularly if they’re prone to chewing plants or digging up the garden. 

Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and amaryllis are all common spring plants that are poisonous to both cats and dogs. They can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, tremors, and other dangerous side effects. It’s always really important to keep an eye on your dog to make sure it’s not eating anything nasty out on walks.

Lilies, including Asiatic lilies and daylilies, can be harmful to both dogs and cats; however, the consequences are far more severe in cats. The flowers, leaves and pollen (which may easily attach to your cat’s fur and then be mistakenly swallowed through the grooming process) are all deadly.

Even the water from a vase holding lilies, if consumed, can be potentially lethal. Make sure if you receive any flower bouquets this spring, that they are well out of reach of your pets.  

Brendan Clarke said: “Easter can be such a fun time for the whole family, and our pets are an important part of this. We all like to treat ourselves to festive treats such as Easter eggs and hot cross buns, but it's really important we know what's good and bad for our pets' health. The safest bet is to make sure Easter chocolate is not left in reach, stick to natural, pet-friendly treats and always be alert when out and about on spring walks.”

Banner credit: Iuliia Zavalishina

Read more: How to make your garden pet friendly

Read more: 10 Baby animals who are excited for Easter

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