It’s easy to do, and we’ve all done it. Accidentally, of course… and all with the best of intentions. Holiday toxicities can happen so easily, and they do. It almost happened to me, yesterday afternoon.
I arrived at my house yesterday afternoon to find a pleasant surprise waiting for me. An unexpected visitor. As any cat owner knows, with the arrival of visitors, full inspection of all contents they bring, is warranted. With most cats, curiosity gets the best of them. To say this about Monster would be an understatement to say the least. He has a tendency to surpass the line of acceptable behavior and does as he pleases…thus the name, Monster. To his delight, I hadn’t noticed the lovely hydrangea sitting on the counter-top until Monster was about to take a mouth-full. Frantically I grabbed the plant and took it to the basement where Monster doesn’t have access to it, shortly afterwards it was removed from our home. His eager little mind, had once again gotten the best of him and the best of my nerves. A happy ending for Monster. He had not ingested any of this toxic plant. However, unfortunately for the plant – fate did not favor it so well.
Various common plants are toxic to dogs and cats alike. Tulips, daffodils, hydrangeas, lilies and many more, are all toxic to our pets and it’s important to be able to find this information, and quickly if needed. If ever you are unsure, your veterinarian is always the best source of information regarding your pets.
Other Easter hazards to consider this weekend:
Easter Egg Hunts
As enjoyable as they are, you may want to consider these tips to making this chocolaty-filled event safer for your pets. (Leave the Easter Bunny a note)
- Gate off the area that you are using for the egg hunt to restrict your pets access.
- Count the number of pieces you are hiding to ensure that all pieces are counted for after the hunt is over, and none are left for your pets to find later.
- Consider using alternatives to ‘Easter grass’ as this can cause an obstruction if ingested.
Wrappers from Easter treats
It’s not just the chocolate toxicity we worry about. Wrappers from all treats can cause an obstruction if ingested.
Restrict their access to foods that that could cause problems. These items include:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans)
- Turkey, chicken or other bones
- Mouldy or spoiled foods
- Onions, onion powder, grapes & raisins
- Fatty foods
- Yeast dough
And finally – baby animals
Baby chicks, bunnies and ducks may seem like the perfect Easter basket addition, but think twice! These cute babies grow up into large, adult animals requiring full-time care.
Tip: Stuffed bunnies and chicks make a much better choice as Easter pets!
For more detailed information, and a complete list of toxic and non-toxic plants and other substances, information on safe gardening, check out these websites: