Easter is just around the corner! Many of us are more than ‘hoppy’ to celebrate the spring holiday with friends and family. Our four-legged friends count as both! However, like any other holiday, Easter does present a few specific seasonal dangers that pet owners should be aware of. A Vinton, VA vet offers some safety tips in this article.

Be Cautious With Food 

Many Easter feasts feature ham or pork for the main course. These delicious foods are quite high in salt and fat, and should only be offered to pets sparingly and in very small amounts. Anything with cooked bones is also unsafe; they can not only choke pets, but also pose a risk of obstruction. You’ll need to keep those chocolate eggs and bunnies away from your furry friend as well. Chocolate can be deadly to pets at just one ounce per pound of their body weight. Also on the no-no list are grapes and raisins, garlic and onions, nuts, avocados, pitted fruits, raw dough or yeast, and alcohol. Those pretty colored eggs are also not something you want your pet eating. Ask your vet for more information. 

Decorate Carefully

However, many holiday decorations are dangerous to fluffy and Fido. Store-bought Easter baskets should definitely be kept out of paws’ reach. For one thing, they usually contain chocolate, which, as mentioned above,  is extremely dangerous for pets. That green plastic grass is a choking hazard, and can cause potentially-fatal blockages and obstructions if ingested. Anything small or sharp is also dangerous. That includes small plastic eggs, many candies, figurines, and many other decorative items. 

Choose Safe Bouquets 

Bright, beautiful bouquets can make stunning holiday centerpieces, but you’ll need to be careful here as well. Several seasonal favorites, such as tulips, daffodils, and lilies, are toxic to pets. Lilies are particularly dangerous to cats: even eating a leaf or drinking the water is enough to cause organ failure. Check the ASPCA website here for more information.

Parasites

Many of us are thrilled to see warmer weather returning. However, we’re not quite as enthusiastic about the things that come with it, such as fleas, ticks, and heartworm. Keep up with your furry friend’s preventative care! 

All of us here at Southern Hills Animal Hospital, your Vinton, VA pet hospital, want to wish you a wonderful Easter. Please contact us for all of your pet’s veterinary care needs!