Vets warn of Easter no-no's for pets

Easter baskets can hold hidden dangers for dogs, cats

Published  8:49 AM EDT Mar 26, 2013

If you have pets and plan to do some Easter shopping this week, you may want to take another hard look at your list because Easter decorations, candy and pets don't mix, according to veterinarians.

"If you're going to have a lot of these Easter candies and displays around, make sure you have them up where your pet's not going to be able to get to them," said veterinarian Dr. John Fioramonti.

Experts said the shiny grass typically used to decorate Easter baskets shouldn't be used because pets sometimes try to eat it and can't digest it. Fioramonti said the blades can get stuck internally and cause a blockage in the intestinal tract.

"What happens is grass passes through the stomach into the intestinal tract, and it tends to cut -- saw -- through the intestinal tract if it's not careful," Fioramonti said.

He said the problem isn't as concerning for big dogs but can cause big problems for smaller dogs and cats. Fioramonti suggested using real or paper grass instead.

The grass may be especially tempting for pets if it's packed with candy, which can lead to another big danger -- chocolate. Most adults know that it's not good for cats and dogs, but experts said to make sure kids are warned not to share, too.

Pets would have to eat a lot of chocolate to get sick, but it does happen.

"Then you need to be calling your veterinarian and having that pet monitored very closely," Fioramonti said. "There are certain chemicals in chocolate that are bad for cats and dogs."

Plastic eggs and the foil candy wrappers can also cause intestinal problems and even require surgery. Vets also said Easter lilies are one of the most dangerous and poisonous plants for pets -- especially cats -- and can lead to a quick onset of kidney failure.

"They have some toxic chemicals, and they can cause heart arrhythmias and things if the pet chews on the leaves too much," Fioramonti said. "If a cat were to eat a large volume of the lily flower itself and the leaves, they could pass away between 48 to 72 hours." 

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