Easter Can Be Dangerous For Your Pets
There is not a lot to NOT like about Easter. I mean we've got ham, chocolate, spending time with family, and of course peeps. But Easter can have some hidden dangers for our 4 legged friends. Here are 10 things that I found on the pet website PetMD to keep out of Fido and Fluffy's way this weekend.
In no specific order the ten most common things to have your pet avoid this weekend are:
10. Chocolate - According to PetMD Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine as well as caffeine.Both cause chocolate to be highly toxic to dogs. Cats might also suffer ill effects from chocolate but they normally don't eat sweet things. Dark chocolate and unsweetened, bitter chocolate are the most toxic.
9. Easter Basket Filler - Plastic grass, the aforementioned chocolate, plastic eggs, foil wrappings, and Easter toys are popular fillers for Easter baskets, but they may also attract pets who can chew and swallow them. This might cause a blockage in their throats, or intestines.
8. Raw Eggs - (who gives a kid a raw colored egg?) Much like us our pets could get salmonella. It's rare, but it can happen.
7. Food Coloring - It's a good idea to make sure the food dyes that are used say non toxic on them. If your pet eats a lot of artificially colored items this weekend it's advised you give your vet a call.
6. Candies and Foods Containing Xylitol - Xylitol is a sweetener often found in sugar-free candy, sugar-free baked goods, and sugar-free gum. It can also be found in some common household items like toothpaste and vitamins. According to the website Healthline dogs are actually the only species reportedly affected by xylitol toxicity.
5. Ham - (I wasn't going to share my ham with anyone, let alone a pet) Foods that are high in fat like ham can lead to your pet having an upset stomach and in more serious cases, it can cause pancreatitis.
4. Onions and Garlic - Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks—as well as other members of the allium family—are according to Nationwide Insurance toxic to dogs and cats.
3. Alcohol - This website I found says that alcohol is harmful to cats and dogs because of their small size and how quickly the alcohol can hit their bloodstream. The website referenced The Merck Veterinary Manual 2014
2. Lillies - Lilies are highly toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure or even lead to death if not treated properly. There is no safe part of a lily that a cat can eat.
1. Macadamia Nuts - The AKC is fully behind this, but you can find these in baked goods.
If you want a full list of foods that you shouldn't feed your pet, you can head to the AKC's website here.
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