Easter Hazards for Pets: What to Watch For Beyond Chocolate

While certain holidays, like Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine's Day, likely make pet parents think twice about what's on their kitchen counter and around the house, vigilance should be practiced during other times of year, too. Easter, and springtime in general, brings with it candies, chocolates, toys, and spring plants - all fun things, but some of which can put your pet's health at risk. Are you aware of the potential Easter dangers for pets? If not, read through this guide to learn more about how to keep your cat or dog safe throughout the spring festivities.

Easter hazards pet parents shouldn't forget

Spring holiday pet safety begins with understanding the things you might have at home that could be toxic or dangerous to your furry pal. Here's what to look out for so you can keep your pet safe.

Easter candy and other foods

One of the most high-profile food risks that many pet parents are aware of is chocolate. Chocolate is toxic to pets because of theobromine, a chemical compound that can cause increased heart rate and blood pressure, tremors, and even seizures, as well as caffeine, which can lead to similar effects. The darker the chocolate, the higher amounts of theobromine and caffeine. But even if your Easter bunny or chocolate eggs consist of milk or white chocolate, keep it out of reach of your dog or cat, as they may still contain trace amounts as well as unhealthy sugars and fats. So, what to do if your dog eats chocolate? Call the vet.

But are other types of Easter candy toxic to dogs and cats? Unfortunately for pet parents with a sweet tooth, most candy and other sweet treats aren't suitable for dogs or cats. While processed sugar isn't necessarily toxic to pets, consuming it may lead to stomach upset or weight gain. But this doesn't mean that sugar-free sweets are okay. In fact, many sugar-free candies are extremely toxic to dogs because of a sugar alcohol called xylitol (it may also appear in ingredients lists as "wood sugar," "birch sugar," or "birch bark extract"). While humans - and even cats - can process this sugar alcohol, dogs can't process xylitol. Ingesting xylitol can lead to very serious symptoms.

Other food risks to be aware of include cooked bones, onions, garlic, chives, macadamia nuts, and raisins.

Small Easter toys and items

While chocolate is one of the most well-known risks, there are other Easter dangers for pets that you need to keep in mind as spring rolls around.

Easter baskets are full of small items, such as plastic eggs, small toys, foil-wrapped candies, and more. All of these can be choking hazards if they get into your dog or cat's mouth. If your pet ingests these small items, it can cause a blockage in their throat or digestive system, leading to choking or other health complications.

But pet parents should think beyond the toys and candies and be wary of any decorative items, such as plastic grass, ribbons, or bows, that can cause intestinal blockages. Crinkle paper can be used as an alternative to decorate Easter baskets, as very small amounts of paper can be digested by dogs and cats. But ingested in large amounts, crinkle paper can also cause digestive blockages.

Easter flowers

Those beautiful Easter flowers on your dining table? Those can be dangerous to your pet. In fact, the most poisonous of them all are lilies. While these aren't poisonous for dogs (although, they might cause stomach upset), lilies are toxic to cats. In fact, every part of the lily is considered highly toxic, from the flowers to the pollen to the stem - even down to the water in the vase. If your cat is exposed to any part of a lily, symptoms can be severe and, if left untreated, can lead to kidney failure, making it extremely important to not bring these plants into your home.

Other flowers and plants that can pose a risk to your pet include hydrangeas, daisies, aloe vera, and pathos.

What to do if your pet eats something risky

This is what to do if you think your pet ate something they shouldn't have:

1. Assess the situation. Try to stay calm as you figure out what exactly they ate, how much, and when. Take a picture of what they ate, if possible. Your veterinarian will likely ask these questions and request photo proof (if you have it), so having the answers beforehand may speed the process. For example, if your dog ate a candy wrapper, the treatment will be different than if they ate candy containing xylitol.
2. Call your vet. Once you've assessed what your pet ate, call your vet immediately. They'll likely ask for your pet's information and detailed questions regarding what your dog or cat ingested.
3. Watch for other symptoms. As you prepare to head to the vet's office or emergency pet clinic and while you're en route, monitor your pet's symptoms. Are symptoms getting worse, better, or are there new ones? Relay all of this information to the vet once you arrive.

Here's what NOT to do:

• Don't wait for symptoms to worsen. If you notice anything amiss with your dog or cat, it's best to call the vet. Don't take a "wait and see" approach, as your pet's symptoms may worsen quickly, leading to an even higher health risk.
• Don't induce vomiting. Before doing anything, call the veterinarian. They'll tell you exactly what to do at home or urge you to come to the office or emergency clinic. Inducing vomiting without a trained professional can potentially cause more damage.

When to call your vet or emergency clinic

Some pet parents may still be wondering, "But when am I actually supposed to call the vet?" While any abnormal symptom can be cause for concern, here are some specific examples of when to reach out to your veterinarian.

As you can see, any concerning symptom or behavior in your dog or cat warrants an immediate phone call to the vet. In the case of choking, call the vet's emergency line and let them walk you through how to help your pet at home, such as taking extreme caution to sweep their mouth for the object (as they may bite) or even performing the Heimlich maneuver.

Easter pet proofing checklist

To prevent any Easter dangers for pets ending up in your dog or cat's mouth, we've put together a handy spring holiday pet safety checklist so that you know exactly what to do.

• Keep Easter basket goodies away from pets. We're not going to tell you to avoid chocolates and candy altogether. Rather, be vigilant about storing these items up high in a hard-to-reach or locked cabinet.
• Watch your pets closely when certain items are out. As the kids are opening Easter baskets and springtime gifts, monitor your dog or cat closely to ensure they don't snag a chocolate, candy wrapper, or toy. Better yet, put them in an enclosed area during candy-opening time—and be sure to clean up before letting them out.
• Monitor pets while you're cooking. This is something to be mindful of year-round and during springtime, too. Never give your pets cooked bones or let other harmful foods fall to the ground while you're cooking, such as onions or garlic.
• Empty the trash frequently. Curious cats and dogs may want to inspect the smells coming from the trash can. To keep them from ingesting something they shouldn't, empty the trash immediately (to an inaccessible location) after cooking with risky ingredients or eating food that's harmful to them.
• Don't bring certain flowers or plants into your home. Although you might be tempted to buy spring flowers at the store, make sure you thoroughly research flowers and plants that might be toxic to your pet. Opt for safe indoor plants.

While most pet parents are watchful over their pet, the truth is that sometimes things happen. After all, pets can be mischievous! That's why it's crucial to have pet insurance so that your dog or cat can get the treatment they need for covered issues that occur. Learn more about Trupanion's insurance policies for your dog or cat.