Easter Hazards
Easter can be an exciting time for both adults and children. While we prepare for Easter, it is essential to keep an eye on potential dangers for your furry friend.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine (a chemical compound found in the cacao plant), which can be fatal to our pets.
It is important to keep chocolate out of reach this Easter. If you are hiding chocolate eggs, keep your pets in a safe location away from the hunt and record where you have hidden the eggs.
If you do suspect your pet may have eaten some chocolate, call your local vet straight away, as symptoms can take up to three hours to show.
Some symptoms to look out for include:
• Vomiting,
• Diarrhoea,
• Increased urination,
• Restlessness,
• Hyperactivity,
• Twitching,
• And in severe cases, seizures.
Hot cross buns
Hot cross buns are another treat to keep out of reach of our furry friends. Some hot cross buns contain chocolate which can be fatal to our pets. They can also contain raisins. Raisins, grapes, sultanas and currants have been shown to cause acute kidney failure in dogs. The exact reason is still not identified; therefore, we cannot determine how much is toxic or which pets will be affected. Some pets can eat a few grapes with no ill effects, whereas others may become severely ill with the same amount.
It is always better to be on the safe side; if you suspect your pet has eaten any, please call us immediately.
Initial signs can include:
• Vomiting,
• Diarrhoea.
Noises and crowds
New visitors, noises and smells can sometimes cause anxiety for your pet. To help minimise your pet's stress;
• Create a calm, quiet spot for your pet away from the noise.
• Exercise your pet before any guests arrive.
Decorations
Small and cute Easter decorations could become choking hazards for your pet or, if broken, can cause cuts to their mouths. Ensure all decorations are out of your pet's reach or too big for them to fit in their mouths. If your pet has swallowed or eaten any decorations, please call our team.
Flowers
Some flowers are toxic to our pets. If you decorate with flowers or receive them as gifts, place them in a location your pet can't get to. Some flowers and plants to look out for include:
Common Poisonous House Plants
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Poisonous Part |
| Bird of Paradise | Strelizia regirae | Fruit, seeds |
| Boston Ivy | Parthenocissus quinquefolia | All parts |
| Caladium | Caladium | All parts |
| Creeping Charlie | Glecoma hederacea | All parts |
| Dumbcane | Dieffenbachia | All parts |
| Emerald Duke | Philodendron hastatum | All parts |
| Glacier Ivy | Hedera glacier | Leaves, berries |
| Heartleaf | Philadendron cordatum | All parts |
| English Ivy | Hedera helix | Leaves, berries |
| Lily/Liliaceae Family | Lilium | All parts |
| Marble Queen | Scindapsus aureus | All parts |
| Majesty | Philodendron hastatum | All parts |
| Nephthytis, Arrowhead Vine | Synogonium podophyllum albolineatum | All parts |
| Parlor Ivy | Philodendron cordatum | All parts |
| Pothos | Scindapsus aureus | All parts |
| Red Princess | Philodendron hastatum | All parts |
| Saddleleaf | Philodendron selloum | All parts |
| Split leaf Philodendron | Monstera deliciosa | All parts |
| Umbrella Plant | Cyperus alternifolius | All parts |
Common Poisonous Outdoor Plants
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Poisonous Part |
| Apricot | Prunus ameniaca | Stem, bark, seed pits |
| Azalea | Rhododendron occidentale | All parts |
| Baneberry | Actaea Spicata | Berries, roots, foliage |
| Buchberry | Lantana | All parts |
| Castor Bean | Ricinus communis | Seeds, if chewed |
| Choke Cherry | Prunus virginica | Leaves, seed pits, stems, bark |
| Daffodil | Narcissus | Bulbs |
| Daphne | Daphne mezereum | Berries, bark, leaves |
| Foxglove | Digitalis purpura | Leaves, seeds, flowers |
| Hemlock | Conium maculatum | All parts, root and root stalk |
| Hens-and-Chicks | Lantana | All parts |
| Hyacinth | Hyacinthus orientalis | Bulbs, leaves, flowers |
| Hydrangea | Hydrangea macrophylla | Leaves, buds |
| Jerusalem Cherry | Solanim pseudocapscium | All parts, unripe fruit |
| Jimson Weed | Datura stramonium | All parts |
| Jonquil | Narcissus | Bulbs |
| Lily-of-the-Valley | Convallaria majalis | All parts |
| Mandrake | Podophyllum peltatum | Roots, foliage, unripe fruit |
| Mistletoe | Phoradendron Flavescens | Berries |
| Morning Glory | Ipomoea violaces | Seeds |
| Nightshade | Atropa belladonna | All parts |
| Oleander | Norium Oleander | All parts, including dried leaves |
| Poinsettia | Euphorbia pulcherrima | Leaves, flowers |
| Pokeweed, Inkberry | Phytolacca americana | All parts |
| Red Sage | Lantana camara | Green berries |
| Rhododendron | Rhododendron | All parts |
| Rhubarb | Rheum raponticum | Leaves |
| Sweet Pea | Lathyrus odoratus | Seeds, pods |
| Tulip | Tulipa | Bulbs |
| Wisteria | Wisteria | Seeds, pods |
| Yew | Taxus | Needles, bark, seeds |
If your pet has nibbled on any of your plants, please take a photo of the plant for later identification and reference, and call your local vet immediately.
We hope you enjoy a lovely Easter.
Christmas & New Year’s Hazards
The silly season is an exciting time of year, with Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations giving us plenty of reasons to let loose and celebrate. With an increase of visitors, noises, tasty treats, shiny new toys, and interesting smells, this time of year can be overwhelming for our pets.
Here are some recommendations to make sure your furry friends are safe and happy during this festive time.
- Make sure your pet has access to a quiet, calm, and secluded spot to hide away if needed
- Exercise your pets before any guests arrive or before any particularly noisy events (i.e., fireworks displays) if you can – a pet with pent up energy can easily become anxious
- Keep Christmas decorations and wrapping items (paper, tape, ribbon, discarded plastic, etc.) out of your pet’s reach. If ingested, these items can cause serious health problems, including intestinal blockages that may require surgical removal
- Many plants and flowers used for Christmas decorations are toxic to pets – be sure to keep these out of reach
- Many foods we see at celebrations are toxic to pets and can even be fatal. Make sure your pet does not have access to:
o Chocolate
o Christmas pudding
o Salty foods (chips, pretzels, crackers, etc.)
o Lollies & artificial sweeteners
o Grapes, sultanas, raisins, and currants
o Alcohol
o Cherry pits (and other stone fruit pits)
o Macadamias
o Corn cobs
o Avocado
o Cooked bones
Fireworks can be terrifying for pets. Here is a list of tips for preparing your pet for fireworks displays:
- Keep pets indoors when possible. The walls and roof will help to soften the noise and will also contain them safely.
- Prepare your pet for loud noises during the day by putting on the TV or radio. Turn the volume up progressively throughout the day, so when the fireworks display commences, the existing noise will create a distraction
- Avoid fussing over your pet. Carry on as normal, as this will reassure your pet nothing is wrong. You can use treats and games to distract them and encourage calm behaviour.
- Ensure your pet’s microchip and identification tag details are up to date. Unfortunately, many pets escape during fireworks displays and can be found very far from home.
- Pheromone diffusers could help to calm your pet. Talk to our team about Feliway for cats or Adaptil for dogs.
- Some pet owners choose to use medications to assist in keeping particularly anxious pets calm. This is not something our team can organise for you without prior consultation, so please book in advance.
Our appointments during the festive season fill up very quickly, so be sure to organise an appointment as soon as possible.
If you suspect your pet has ingested something they shouldn’t, has injured themselves, or you would like more advice on keeping them safe over the Christmas and New Year’s period, please give your vet clinic a call.