Holiday Hazards

Easter concerns for your pet

Avoid buying Easter-themed pets as a gift. Chicks and bunnies are extremely vulnerable animals and need a lot of special care and attention. They required special feeding, care, and consistent temperatures. Small children may break the animals’ fragile bones and cause other fatal injuries. People may also contract Salmonella from chicks and ducks, causing severe inflammation of the intestinal tract. Consider giving a stuffed animal and adopting a dog from the animal shelter or a cat from our hospital after the holidays.
Easter grass. This stuff moves easily and is often irrestible for some cats. They have a great desire to eat it. If ingested, Easter grass has the high potential of causing a linear foreign body and is potentially fatal to your cat. If you notice any hanging out of your animal avoid pulling it as this may cause more damage. Call your veterinarian as soon as possible if you suspect that your cat or dog ingested some Easter grass.
Holiday house plants to avoid (for all holidays):

Lillies (especially Easter Lillies) can be deadly to cats. Many types can cause kidney failure.
Poinsettias are not toxic as we once thought, but can upset your pet’s digestive system.
Mistletoe (especially the berries) are highly toxic causing digestive upset and potentially fatal heart problems.
Holly can cause vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and lethargy.
Amaryllis and Hibiscus can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Foods high in fat (turkey skins, gravy) can cause pancreatitis, an inflammation of this digestive gland, potentially leading to hospitalization for your pet. Limit table scraps for your pet.
Bones. Any type of bone has the potential to obstruct your pet’s digestive tract. Poultry bones can be especially dangerous or even fatal to animals.
Strings to tie up the turkey. The string can cause an obstruction in your pet’s digestive tract as well.
Onions. These are toxic to a dog’s red blood cells, causing anemia. Avoid foods containing onion powder as well.
Grapes and raisins. These have been known to cause kidney failure in animals.
Chocolate (especially baking chocolate). This delectable dessert can kill an animal, so keep all candies and desserts out of your animals reach. Chocolate can affect the nervous system and cause urinary system and heart muscle damage in your pet. Theobromine is the toxin in chocolate, and darker chocolates contain a higher amount.
Leftover food. Any garbage can contain toxins such as E-coli that can affect your pet’s organs.