With Easter just around the corner for Orange County kids and pets, it is a good time to assure your pets are safe from the festivities and upcoming springtime hazards. After a long, cold winter, your pets will be excited to enjoy the warmer days. There are many dangers that pets can come into contact with during the holiday and the days after.
Easter Lilies
Although these plants are beautiful and very fragrant, they are one of the most toxic plants for pets, especially cats. Even a small amount ingested including the pollen can be fatal to your cat. Symptoms to look for if you believe your pet has come into contact with the lily are vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, drooling, increased water consumption, and increased urine output. There is no antidote to the plant toxin. If you believe your cat has ingested any part of the flower, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Chocolate
Chocolate can be highly toxic to your pets, especially dogs. It contains theobromine and caffeine which are both stimulants that have higher toxicity levels in darker chocolates. Chocolate poisoning can result in diarrhea, vomiting, lack of appetite, and a rapid heart rate.
Easter grass
Colorful plastic Easter grass can be found in just about every Easter basket. The colorful plastic strands can become fascinating to almost any playful, curious pet as well as a potential problem. If ingested the strands can become a linear foreign body wrapping around the intestines. This is more common in cats but not unseen in dogs too. A safer alternative to the plastic grass would be shredded paper or real grass.
Easter eggs
While egg hunts can be fun and adventurous, it could prove to be harmful to your pets. Unfound eggs, whether it be hard boiled eggs or plastic eggs, after an egg hunt could later cause a problem to your pet. Hard boiled eggs tend to spoil pretty fast and can cause gastrointestinal distress causing your pet to become very sick. Shiny, plastic eggs may look like colorful toys to your pet but chewed-up, broken plastic pieces can be swallowed and cause intestinal problems which may require surgery. So be sure to know where you laid the eggs for your Orange County egg hunt so that you can find them before your pets do.
If you suspect your pet has ingested something potentially hazardous, contact your veterinarian immediately.