Easter is a time of celebration for many families with baskets of candy, Easter egg hunts and the great Easter dinner. For our dogs and cats, Easter can mean a few temptations to chew and ingest and lick things that are not good for them. Here are several things to review to keep your pets safe.

Easter Baskets – Keep these fun baskets and toys away from your curious dog. Shiny tinsel or colorful Easter grass looks like an enticing snack to a dog. If eaten, it can become caught in the intestines or cause choking. The same goes for small toys and other goodies that can be swallowed when you are not looking.

Easter Eggs – An Easter egg hunt is a fun holiday activity; just don’t forget where they’re hidden. A fresh, hardboiled egg is okay for dogs to eat in moderation, but if your dog finds a spoiled egg days later, he could be heading for an upset tummy.

Flowers, Lilies – What’s Easter without Easter lilies adorning the table? Thankfully, this beautiful flower is not particularly poisonous to dogs (unless ingested in large amounts), but for our feline friends, even a tiny lick can prove extremely dangerous. If your house includes cats, play it safe and don’t bring Easter lilies into your home. There is no medication to counteract the effects of toxins in lilies, so should you witness your cat licking or chewing any part of a lily, immediately call your vet.

Chocolate – Did you know that the Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661 calls increase by nearly 200 percent during the week of Easter. While chocolate is delicious for humans, chocolate is poisonous to dogs and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythms, seizures and possibly death if eaten in large amounts. Dark chocolate is even more poisonous to dogs than milk chocolate, because it contains more of the chemical theobromine, which is responsible for the poisonous effects. Baker’s chocolate is riskiest – just two ounces can severely sicken a 50-pound dog.

Easter Candy – Dogs are attracted to the sweet taste of candy, but just like chocolate, it’s a no-no and they don’t need all that extra sugar. Sugar-free candy that contains xylitol is especially bad for pets and can cause a drop in blood sugar, seizures or liver failure. Keep any Easter edibles safely out of reach of your dog.

Holiday Dinner – Ham poses a double-whammy danger – it’s too high in fat and salt for both dogs and cats and could cause swelling and inflammation of the pancreas. Vomiting and diarrhea usually result (especially in dogs), but left untreated, pancreatitis can cause organ damage. Onions, garlic, chives and leeks are another no-no for dogs and cats, triggering anemia and causing red blood cells to rupture.

Rover’s Kids wish you a safe and Happy Easter!

We cannot wait to see you in the greenbelt on April 8 at 9:00 a.m. for the kids’ Easter Treasure Hunt – bring your kids and friends and join the fun! For more information on adoptable kids or to volunteer, please call 480-600-2828.