I don't know about you but when I was a kid and Easter rolled around, all I could think about was dying eggs, malted milk Easter eggs, jelly beans galore and the ultimate, finding the most Easter eggs in our annual neighborhood hunt and winning the BIG PRIZE!
Fast forward (you don't want to know how many years) and while I see the Easter holiday in a very different light, I also think about my dog Max and the potential perils this holiday presents for him. So while I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season, I would like to point out what we consider to be the seven deadly sins of Easter:
#1 Easter Lilies: While beautiful, Easter lilies -- and all other lily flowers -- are deadly poison to cats if any part of the plant is ingested. The plant is poisonous to a cat's kidneys when eaten and, even with prompt veterinary care, treatment is not always successful.
#2 Plastic Easter Basket Grass: The plastic component of Easter grass is non-digestible and can get tangled in your pet's intestines. This can lead to a blockage and potential perforation. If ingested it can cause choking or become lodged inside the stomach or intestines, creating an obstruction.
#3 Chocolate: While the kids love chocolate, it can be dangerous for dogs and cats. Chocolate
contains caffeine and theobromine which stimulates the nervous system and can be toxic to animals. If enough is ingested your pet can suffer from vomiting and diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, seizures and worst-case scenario, death.
#4 Other Candy: Candy can cause gastrointestinal disturbances in animals. Most threatening are products containing Xylitol, an artificial sweetener that can be so toxic to pets that within 30 minutes of consuming a small amount a dog can experience a dramatic drop in blood sugar, begin vomiting, become lethargic and have difficulty standing or walking. Some may have seizures, develop internal hemorrhaging and lesions, and suffer liver failure.
#5 Rotten Easter Eggs: Many animals have become sick after sniffing out and consuming a rotten Easter egg that was never found in a previous hunt. If possible use plastic eggs, however, if you do make sure your dog can't get inside them and eat candy or worse try to swallow it and choke or get it lodged in his intestine.
#6 Candy Wrappers: Aluminum or plastic candy wrappers can also be a potential pet hazard during Easter. Many pets are naturally drawn to the texture, bright colors and crinkly sound wrappers make and often unintentionally consume them while playing. Consumption of these items can cause intestinal disturbances and even an intestinal obstruction in the animal.
#7 A Real Live Easter Bunny: While bringing home a real bunny might sound fun, it's important to know that rabbits are not toys, nor are they low- maintenance pets. They require the same level of care as a dog or cat and need plenty of room to play -- and hop. Unfortunately, most rabbits purchased as Easter gifts end up either abandoned on the streets, which is a sure death sentence, or in shelters.
So please keep these tips in mind this holiday season. We wish you a safe and happy Easter!
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