Easter safety tips for pets

Updated 28/11/2023

The choccy eggs are already lining the grocery store shelves (much to our delight) - but it’s no secret that the Easter holidays are often choc-full of tasty treats and egg-shaped delights that - sadly - could cause our fluffy friends some serious harm.

While we don't want to alarm you, it's true that there are potential pet hazards lurking around each and every (egg-lined) corner. But, the good news is that keeping your pets safe and sound over Easter needn't be in your (chocolate-filled) dreams. So, whether you’re a doting pet parent or an eager Easter pet sitter, follow our Easter safety tips below and keep furry friends safe and hopping with happiness this holiday.

Easter pet safety tips

Enjoy a safe, stress-free and 'hoppy' holiday with this list of Easter weekend safety tips - and the main things for furry friends to avoid...

1. Plants and flowers

Pet parents should be aware that many popular springtime blooms - including daffodils, azaleas/rhododendrons, cyclamen, amaryllis, geraniums, and hyacinths (to name but a few) - are all poisonous to pets, and can result in some seriously unpleasant symptoms - some can even be fatal. 

Easter lilies are also toxic, and to be avoided at all costs. In dogs, they can cause a whole host of unpleasant symptoms, including an upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea. In cats, however, the danger is more so - as well as vomiting and lethargy, lily poisoning in cats can lead to kidney failure and can be fatal. Worst still, feline friends only need to ingest a tiny amount of lily pollen for it to cause serious damage (even just licking it from their paw or fur is enough to cause trouble). So, best to keep them well out of paw's reach!

2. Chocolate

It should come as no surprise that chocolate is seriously bad news for our furry friends. Whether it’s in egg form, bunny form, or bar form, chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine which is highly toxic to cats and dogs and can lead to life-threatening symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea, excessive thirst, increased urination, hyperactivity and restlessness, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, seizures, coma - and death. 

Planning to host your own Easter egg hunt? Chocolate eggs can pose a particularly big risk to pets - especially if you have kids in the home. Here are some top Easter egg hunt safety tips to keep in mind:

• Keep your pets safe in a separate and enclosed area during your Easter egg hunt 
• Switch chocolate eggs for paper 'egg tokens’ (or another pet-safe alternative)
• Make a note of where each egg/item is hidden (and ensure they're all found!) 
• Better still, let your four-legged friend join in on the fun with a pet-friendly Easter egg hunt, by hiding dog treats around the home and yard!

3. Easter decorations

Easter grass may be the perfect foundation for your festive Easter basket, but beware: if ingested, it can cause obstructions and blockages in your pet's system, which (as well as being seriously unpleasant for your pet) may require surgery. 

Likewise, stuffed toys, decorative bunnies and hard plastic eggs all pose a safety risk for over-eager canines and curious kitties. So, should the (well-meaning and good-intentioned) Easter bunny stop by your home for a visit, do ask that they leave any items that may harm your pet firmly at the front door!

4. Sweets and candy

Needless to say, sweets and candy are not staples of a healthy pooch or feline diet. But as well as being simply unhealthy for our four-legged friends, many sweet treats contain sinister ingredients that could cause our pets harm.

For example, many sugar-free treats contain xylitol - a sugar substitute commonly found in candy, baked goods, and gum that is toxic to pets. If ingested, it can lead to a deadly drop in blood sugar in dogs, resulting in seizures, liver failure, and even death. While there are fewer reports of xylitol poisoning in cats, due to its high toxicity in dogs, it’s best avoided by feline friends too. 

If you're considering a healthier approach to Easter this year, be aware that raisins, grapes, sultanas and currants are also toxic to pets!

5. Easter food

True - Easter is a time to eat, drink, and be merry - but unfortunately, a lot of Easter food poses a big risk to furry friends!

Toxic ingredients such as raisins, sultanas, currants and chocolate may lurk in your hot crossed buns, while table scraps from Easter dinner may contain spices or other ingredients that are toxic to pets, such as onion or garlic. Not to mention, a lot of Easter foods are likely to be incredibly high in fat, and so no good for our furry friends either!

Can't resist giving your dog or cat a little treat this Easter? Honestly, we get it - but keep it safe and pet-friendly with these homemade cat treats, or these easy peanut butter dog treat recipes. 

6. Alcohol

It should almost go without saying, but for the avoidance of doubt: alcohol is also a big no-no for our fluffy friends! Just a small sip can cause vomiting, diarrhea, a lack of coordination, central nervous system depression, and can cause your pet to lose consciousness. In worst-case scenarios, it can lead to liver or kidney failure, respiratory problems, cardiac arrest, and even death. So, under no circumstances should you be allowing your canine or feline (or any other pet) pal so much as a drop of your Easter tipple...

Meet our veterinary expert, Emma

This article has been checked by veterinarian Emma Chandley, BVetMed MRCVS PGCertSAS. Emma graduated from the Royal Vet College in London in 2011. She has a keen interest in surgery and went on to do a postgraduate certificate in small animal surgery and was then awarded advanced practitioner status in the same discipline.

Keep your pets safe and ‘hoppy’ at home this Easter

Hopping away from home this Easter? Well whether it’s cat pals, curious canines or little thumpers you’ve got at home, we’ve got thousands of loving pet companions ready to give your furry family the TLC they need while you’re away. 

We pulled a few strings and got chatting with a few of our four-legged friends to uncover why Easter sitters are the best thing since sliced carrots - so without any further ado, let’s hear what they had to say…