Easter is here. The family has come to visit, Easter egg hunts are taking place or perhaps you’ve decided to hit the road for a camping trip.

Whatever the case may be, this can be an exciting time for the whole family, your pets included. Now while you are having a great time with your family, you need to understand the dangers that could affect your furry friends. So how do we have a safe Easter with our fluffy friends?

The most obvious danger to your dog at easter is chocolate. As many of you would have heard, chocolate is toxic to dogs. That is a fact. Dogs can’t metabolize certain ingredients found in chocolate the way that humans can. If poisoning from chocolate occurs it can cause seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, hyperactivity, and an elevated heart rate, as well as many other symptoms. If you think your dog may have eaten chocolate, contact your nearest vet for help, as your pet may need urgent treatment.

It is possible to buy dog-safe chocolate which includes safe-to-eat ingredients. But do not confuse the two and if in doubt, stick to normal treats. Your dog will just be happy to get a treat.

If you are doing easter egg hunts in the garden, make sure all chocolate eggs are found. You don’t want your dog to find one by accident

Xylitol is a sugar substitute found in many sugar-free lollies, chewing gums, peanut butters, and baked goods. If ingested by your pet, their blood sugar can take a sudden drop and can also lead to seizures and liver failure. Be sure to keep all sweet treats out of reach of your pet. At Capalaba Produce we stock a dog safe type of peanut butter in-store, so if you’re looking for a new treat for your family friend. Make sure to pop down to Capalaba Produce and check it out.

As with the last two, human food is also not something you should be giving your pet. We know giving pets food is great because of the joy they get from it, but human food can be very processed and shouldn’t be consumed by your dogs, or even humans in reality.

This is something every pet owner should be aware of all year round. Different ingredients, fats, and spices can be harmful, so it is best to avoid giving your pet anything other than their usual food and snacks, ensure every person who comes around your pet follows these rules. Hill’s Pets have created a Human Food translator, showing what feeding your pet human food, in human terms.

Food isn’t the only danger that poses a threat to our pets at easter. With all the excitement you must consider that children’s toys and other household items can easily become your pets next chew toy. If they are feeling overwhelmed, excited, ignored, or stressed they may choose to take it out on whatever they can find. The risk here is that your pet may swallow something they shouldn’t have. Keep toys and other items out of your pets reach to prevent any mishaps.

Having guests in the home who are not a part of your immediate household can prove to be stressful for your pet, especially if there are a lot of people around. Your pet may become fearful, stressed, anxious, or overly excited. Be sure to provide your pet their own area away from guests just in case they need it. Remember to include your pet in activities or offer them a toy or treat to keep them stimulated. They are just as much a part of the family as any person, so be sure to show them a lot of love.

Easter is the perfect time of year to surround yourself with family and to indulge yourself with chocolate, just remember though, that chocolate is not for pets.

We love our pets and want them to know how much we love them. Instead of giving them chocolate why not take them outside and play a game of fetch, take them for a walk, and spend some active time with them. They’ll love you even more for it!

Wishing you all a very safe and happy Easter from Nicholas, and the team at Capalaba Produce.