Easter Pet Safety Tips

Humane societies nationwide like the SPCA are urging people to take caution with their pets around Easter.

As the Easter Bunny makes its way from home to home leaving festooned eggs throughout the garden and decadent sweets for children to eat, it’s important for pet owners to exercise caution to avoid any "eggscitement" during this celebratory time of year.

Easter lilies are highly toxic, and, in fact, can be lethal to cats. All members of the Lilium genus produce a chemical - present in all parts of the plant- that can damage a cat's kidneys. Even water from the vase the lilies stand in is toxic to cats! Easter lilies, stargazer lilies and Asiatic lilies are the most hazardous. (Calla lilies and peace lilies are not a part of the Lilium genus; therefore, they're harmless to cats.)

Candy with Xylitol, an artificial sweetener, as well as all forms of chocolate can be toxic to cats and dogs, too.

If you believe your pet has ingested any of these, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

As cute as baby chicks and bunnies are during this time of year, we don’t recommend giving them as gifts. If your child wants a chick or a bunny, start them out with a plush animal toy. They’re just as cute and don’t require all the time, attention and care as real baby animals do.