Making Easter Safe for Dogs

Easter celebrations are supposed to be enjoyable, but with all the joys of the Easter holiday come potential safety hazards which can hurt or kill dogs

Safety and health expert Debra Holtzman J.D, M.A, author of the book “The Safe Baby: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Safety,” suggests following some simple tips to keep your family and pets safe during the Easter holiday.

• Chocolate bunnies: Chocolate is toxic and sometimes even fatal, for animals, so make sure pets don’t get hold of any chocolate Easter treats.
• Watch inappropriate foods: onions, grapes and raisins can be toxic to pets, Holtzman says.
• Easter eggs: eggs should be hidden in places that are protected from dogs and other bacteria sources.
• Raw or perishable foods: When cracking eggs for your cookie dough or cake batter, be sure to use eggs pasteurized in their shells so licking the spoon remains safe. Raw eggs could be contaminated with Salmonella. Also, if perishable food is left at room temperature for over two hours, bacteria can grow to harmful levels.
• Alcohol: Alcohol affects dogs more drastically than adults, so even small amounts of alcohol can be dangerous. Spiked drinks should be kept out of the reach of dogs. Also, all empty and partially empty cups should be removed as soon as possible.