PET CARE
Easter Hazards for Dogs and Cats
Decorations and edibles can be dangerous Easter hazards for your pets. Chocolate, lilies and decorative accessories are all dangers to our pets this Easter holiday.
Easter holiday celebrations are officially underway with egg hunts, candy baskets and tons of chocolate. But pet parents need to keep a watchful eye on their pets, especially around these traditional holiday treats and decorations.
1. Easter Lilies are beautiful flowers, but the plant has great potential to poison your pet. If consumed by your dog or cat, the Lily can be lethal. If left untreated, pets can suffer from kidney failure resulting in death. Keep all plants, especially Lilies, out of your pet’s reach. If your pet does eat any of the leaves, petals or pollen, contact your veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. Timely treatment is critical.
2. Chocolate is a toxin for your pet, especially for dogs. Consuming chocolate, dark chocolate in particular, can lead to chocolate toxicity. Theobromine, a component of chocolate, and caffeine are the major components making chocolate toxic for pets causing central nervous system stimulation, cardiovascular stimulation, increase blood pressure, nausea and vomiting. If you discover your pet has eaten chocolate, try to assess how much and when, then have the information ready to report to your veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center. Depending on your dogs’ weight and the amount eaten, it may be best to monitor your dog from home. It’s better to be safe, than sorry, so contact the veterinarian for specific instructions in caring for your pet.
3. Decorations such as baskets, plastic eggs, and Easter grass are a hazard to your pet. Young dogs (and some older ones too) will try to chew on baskets and plastic eggs, quickly making those items a choking hazard. Easter grass tends to attract cats similar to tensile during the holidays. Cats will chew on and try to eat the Easter grass which then becomes blocked in their intestine, creating a foreign body ingestion. For some cats, the best treatment is surgery to remove the foreign object. As always, contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your pet has consumed something that may harm them.
These are just a few of the potential hazards found around most homes this holiday season. Always be aware of your pet and their habits and watch for potential hazards year-round.
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Nothing in this article should be construed as financial, legal or veterinary advice. Please consult your own advisors for questions relating to your and your pet’s specific circumstances.
1 Pet Insurance offered by MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC is underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company (“IAIC”), a Delaware insurance company, headquartered at 485 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10022, and Metropolitan General Insurance Company (“MetGen”), a Rhode Island insurance company, headquartered at 700 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886, in those states where MetGen’s policies are available. MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC is the policy administrator authorized by IAIC and MetGen to offer and administer pet insurance policies. MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC was previously known as PetFirst Healthcare, LLC and in some states continues to operate under that name pending approval of its application for a name change. The entity may operate under an alternate, assumed, and/or fictitious name in certain jurisdictions as approved, including MetLife Pet Insurance Services LLC (New York and Minnesota), MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions Agency LLC (Illinois), and such other alternate, assumed, or fictitious names approved by certain jurisdictions.
2 Provided all terms of the policy are met. Application is subject to underwriting review and approval. Like most insurance policies, insurance policies issued by IAIC and MetGen contain certain deductibles, co-insurance, exclusions, exceptions, reductions, limitations, and terms for keeping them in force. For costs, complete details of coverage and exclusions, and a listing of approved states, please contact MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC.