Top 5 Easter Pet Safety Tips for 2023

Easter is a time of joy where some celebrate the joy of family and for others, a time of religious remembrance. No matter why you celebrate Easter, we know celebrations can create danger for your little furry friends. That’s why we created this list of 5 things you should watch out for this easter to make sure you pets stay safe.

One of the many things children look forward to this Easter is the abundance of chocolate. But, with chocolate being toxic for cats and dogs, do your best to keep your treats away from your pet. But knowing not everything goes as planned, you should always be prepared. You can prepare by knowing the signs of chocolate poisoning. These Pet Poison Helpline states these as the main signs of chocolate poisoning:

• Tremors in the muscles and limbs
• Seizures
• Irregular heartbeats
• Agitation/restlessness
• Increased heart rate

If you notice any of these signs, please bring your pet to a registered Vet Clinic/Hospital to receive the treatment they need.

Some may opt for fast food on Easter which can be just as harmful for pets. Fast food is often high in fats and calories which can easily cause issues like obesity, gastrointestinal upset, pancreatitis, dehydration, choking and food poisoning. So please stick to professionally formulated pet foods. These foods are healthy alternatives that will keep your pet friends healthy.

Just like humans, animals can experience stress, anxiety and depression. This is why we suggest creating a safespace for pets to be able to remove themselves from difficult situations. Here are some examples of what a pet safe space might entail:

• A comfortable pet bed: Pets like dogs need a place they can relax and rest.
• Access to clean water and some yummy food & treats
• Something fun to play with: Toys or even another pet friend can be great for unwinding
• Ambience control: Being able to control things like the amount of light in the safespace or noise reduction can be a great way to ensure their mood is under control.
• Medication: safe spaces are a great way to create a healthy routine of taking whatever medication they need to have.

Safe spaces should be adjusted according to your pet to ensure that the source of their safety is something personal to them.

Easter is often decorated like a birthday party would be. On Easter we see plenty of balloons, confetti and all the like. These decorations are made of plastics and thin metal pieces which can be quite harmful for pets. Balloons in particular pose a choking hazard which can easily become lethal. So for all thin plastics and metals or other ingestible decorations, ensure they are kept from pets.

Pet monitoring is the act of ensuring your pet stays safe at all times through a culmination

of strategies and interventions. These strategies include keeping your pet somewhere visible, monitoring their eating, their behavior, and knowing what should be kept away from pets at all times.

Emergencies are an event we do not wish to experience in a time of joy and celebration with family. However, when the disaster strikes, being prepared to save your pet is a skill every owner should have. That’s why we suggest you know how to respond to these five common pet emergency situations this Easter.

1. Ingesting chocolate
2. Swallowing a harmful object
3. An allergic reaction
4. Heatstroke
5. Trauma & injuries

We recommend that every pet owner becomes familiar with these common scenarios. Knowing how to react to such scenarios could mean a world of difference in saving their lives.

Thank you for making an effort to keep your pet safe this easter by reading our blog. We hope this blog helped you identify the dangers that come with easter celebrations. Particularly, bad diets, no place of comfort, lack of awareness around decorations, improper monitoring and no emergency preparedness.

If you have any questions about keeping your pet safe this easter, give us a call and talk with one of our registered vet clinicians.