With Easter right around the corner, even with COVID-19 confronting our lives, there is still going to be an influx of chocolate eggs, lollies, and other delicious treats in many homes across Australia and around the world. Now, more than ever with families being so close together and at home, those with pets need to be hyper-vigilant towards their animal’s health and safety. It is easy to “sneak” our pets a little treat. While these tasty morsels are perfectly safe for humans, they could be extremely toxic for our four-legged friends.
Toxic foods that top the list include chocolate and ham, treats that are very much linked to Easter traditions. Other foods to avoid giving pets include garlic, onions, grapes, raisins, milk and dairy products, eggs, and salty snacks. In addition, people should avoid giving dogs pork or poultry bones as they run the risk of getting lodged in the dog’s throat or puncturing their digestive tract.
Pet owners expecting visitors who are unfamiliar with pets should take the time to educate them about not giving their animals table scraps, no matter how tempting their puppy dog eyes are.
If you plan on holding an Easter egg hunt for your little ones, consider ways to include your pet in the fun. You can do this by hiding their treats or buying little goodies that you know will make their tail wag. Anything that could pose potential harm to your pet should be kept out of their reach. For instance, if you want to give your children a Gold Bunny or Bilby consider hiding them in a place you are confident your pet cannot reach, like on top of the fridge.
By taking a few extra precautionary measures, pet owners can rest assured that they are preserving their pet’s health and well-being.
