Easter & Springtime Hazards for Pets

Spring is a beautiful time of year, however brief the season is here in Florida. Unfortunately, there a few potential hazards for our pets that occur during this time, especially related to Easter.

The most dramatic danger is the Easter Lily. These lovely flowers and related lilies are very poisonous to cats. As you probably know, many cats like to chew on potted plants and flower arrangements. The Easter Lily and Daffodils are toxic to the kidneys, even in small quantities. If you even suspect your cat may have ingested any part of  Lily plant, contact your veterinarian or after hours emergency veterinary facility immediately. The early symptoms may include lethargy and vomiting and can rapidly progress to kidney failure and death.

Chocolate is another hazard, especially for dogs as many have a sweet tooth. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which dogs do not tolerate well. In high enough amounts, these can cause abnormal heart rhythms, seizures and even death. Thankfully, it does take a fair bit of chocolate to cause serious poisoning in larger pets, but it is still quite dangerous. The darker the chocolate, the more concentrated the amount of toxins and the more serious the poisoning may be for the pet. Also, many dogs won't hesitate to eat the foil wrapper around that chocolate Easter bunny, which can cause further tummy upset. So, be especially carefully with the chocolate treats. The early signs of chocolate toxicity may include vomiting, diarrhea and trembling.

The other hazard associated with candy & gum is xylitol. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is quite toxic to pets. It may be found in many sugar-free candies and gum.

Easter grass is particularly hazardous to cats, kittens and puppies that tend to chew foreign materials. The plastic grass is the worst, but even paper grass can cause problems. To many kitties, it's just like string and they like to play with the grass. Unfortunately, they sometimes swallow the grass by accident & they can cause serious damage in the intestines. Puppies tend to swallow Easter grass while rummaging for jelly beans lost in the Easter basket!

So, take a few simple precautions to protect the fur kids and enjoy a wonderful Spring! If you celebrate Easter, may it be joyful!