5 Safety Tips for Easter
Easter is a wonderful holiday that we love to celebrate with our two- and four-legged family members and friends. As a dog parent, there are some things you should consider to keep your furry friend safe and happy during Easter. Read on and be proactive, here are Petli's five Easter hazards:
1) Easter Decorations:
Avoid having Easter decorations (in dog height) with metal wires or small parts that can be dangerous if your dog chews on them or swallows them. Place Easter decorations out of reach on a high surface your dog cannot access. Feathers can be highly tempting to nibble on and colorfull eggs may look like dog toys, to a dog!
2) Chocolate:
Chocolate is a staple of Easter! However, the tasty treats contain theobromine, a health-hazardous substance for dogs that can be deadly toxic! The darker the chocolate (higher the theobromine content), the more dangerous it is. So keep chocolate away from your dog and store it on a high surface your dog cannot reach.
Also inform visitors about this! Well-intentioned little ones may offer your dog a taste of chocolate bunny.
3) Easter Lilies and Other Bulb Plants:
Easter lilies are a common flower during this season, but unfortunately, they are toxic to dogs. Everything from the flower to the bulb can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea in dogs. In some cases, it can lead to more serious health problems, such as heart rhythm disturbances and breathing difficulties.
If you suspect that your dog has eaten parts of or an Easter lily, contact a veterinarian immediately. The symptoms of poisoning can be difficult to detect, so watch out for:
- Tremors
- Lethargy
- Unsteadiness
- Vomiting
- Increased thirst
- Increased urination
- Drooling
Keep Easter lilies out of your dog's reach. If you want flowers in your home at your dog's level, opt for safe alternatives such as Easter cacti, cyclamen, or violets.
4. Avoid dangerous food on the Easter table: provide safe snacks
A Easter dinner with family or friends can brighten the holiday, but watch out! There may be many delicious dishes on the Easter table that can tempt your dog, but are actually harmful to their health. Avoid giving your dog too much food scraps at once. And avoid those containing strong spices, onions, garlic, salt, avocado, or grapes, which are very harmful to dogs.
Check out Petli's article "Not for doggy" in the Petli app that covers what is dangerous for dogs to eat. It's important to be aware of which foods are safe for your dog to eat and which are not.Make sure to keep your dog away from the Easter food and offer an extra tasty chew bone or dog treat instead.
5. Protect your dog from stressful Easter visits
During Easter, it's common in some cultures for cute little Easter witches or bunnies (kids dressed up) to go knocking on doors hoping for candy or Easter eggs. It's a fun tradition, but it can stress and scare a dog that is not used to costumed children. Therefore, make sure to have your dog on a leash if you are out in the yard or behind a gate if there's knocking on the door during Easter.
If you suspect that your dog may get scared or upset by an "Easter witch" standing in front of the door, take the safe route. Put up a sign on the door:
"A dog lives here who doesn't like easter. Please knock on my neighbor's door, their cupboards are full of candy!"
Enough about that, we at Petli just want to make you aware of these Easter hazards so that you can keep your dog safe and well during the holiday. We wish you all a happy and safe Easter!
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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