Chocolate eggs, hot cross buns, time spent with family, oh my!
Easter is a splendid time of year, where you get to put your feet up and relax, entertain the kids with fun easter egg hunts and indulge in tasty food with your community. There’s no doubt your furry friends will want to get involved- and why shouldn’t they! Fun with the family includes every member of it.
But while you get swept up in fun, it’s easy to go lax on the rules surrounding what your pup can and can’t eat. Surely that bit of bone can’t do your pup any harm, right? Wrong. But just because we humans can indulge in whatever treats we like doesn’t mean we can’t do the same for our pets. We just need to ensure this is done in ways safe for them! Read on to learn how to keep your pup safe and entertained during Easter while still indulging yourself.
What Sweet Treats to Avoid This Easter
Easter is the perfect time for indulgence, but it’s important to know what we can and can’t entertain our furry friends with. Let’s have a look:
Chocolate
Perhaps the most obvious, chocolate is very toxic to cats and dogs. This is due to the chemical theobromine, which, even if ingested in small amounts, can be very dangerous.
The grape family
Any member of the grape family is toxic to dogs. For example, sultanas, raisins, and currants. This means making sure your hot cross buns, fruit cakes, and the like are out of reach.
Macadamia nuts
These nuts contain a toxin that affects your dog’s muscles and nervous system. You can find macadamia nuts in biscuits and cereal bars.
Xylitol (sweetener)
Any product containing xylitol (sweetener) will cause liver failure in dogs. These can be found in tea, coffee, chewing gum, and peanut butter. Plenty of processed food contains it.
Savoury Food to Avoid This Easter
It might be tempting to let your pup indulge in a few leftovers over Easter. But don’t let those puppy dog eyes fool you! These food items can be very dangerous to your furry friend.
Cooked bones
What dog doesn’t love being given a bone? Raw bones can be a great addition to your dog’s diet. They not only clean your dogs’ gums but also promote healthy digestion and provide essential minerals. Not to mention the stimulation they get from playing with one!
However, when cooked, bones become brittle and can easily splinter. These sharp pieces can very quickly cause severe injuries to your dog’s mouth, throat, and digestive tract. So, you must ensure you provide the right kind of bone to your furry friend.
Why not check out our selection of meaty bones?
Leftovers
In general, the food we consume is often inappropriate for our dogs. A traditional roast dinner will likely be too salty for your dog. Stuffings and other roast dinner accompaniments often have onions, garlic, shallots, chives and other ingredients – all toxic to your dog.
As a rule of thumb, do not feed your furry friend leftovers. As much as they try to tempt you, it’s not worth the risk! This means ensuring you dispose of leftovers correctly to minimise any risk of disaster.
Spring Plants
People love giving flowers over Easter, it’s the time for a fresh start and celebration. Your dog might want to get in on the fun, so it’s important to know which plants are unsafe to pups. Here are some flowers to keep your furry friend away from:
- Daffodils (and other narcissus)
- Amaryllis
- Hyacinths
- Tulips
- Rhododendrons
- Bluebells
- Azalea
There is a long list of plants that are unsafe for dogs. As a rule of thumb, you should keep flowers out of reach and discourage them from eating outside of their diet.
Keep Your Dog Entertained This Easter
Your dog might experience fear-of-missing-out (FOMO) seeing you and your fellow humans digging into a lovely, juicy lamb for dinner or watching the kids run around looking for Easter eggs. Here’s how you can keep them just as entertained:
Create a dog-friendly Easter basket
Your fellow humans get a basket with all the sweet treats they could desire; why can’t your pup? Fill a basket with fun chew and puzzle toys to keep them just as excited as the rest of the family.
Create a dog-friendly Easter egg hunt
Keeping your dog away from the fun of an Easter egg hunt might give them FOMO, so why not create a dog-friendly alternative! Hide some healthy snacks and see how long it takes for your pup to sniff them out!
Interactive treat puzzles
While the kids are entertained, why not provide your dog with an interactive treat puzzle or dispenser? These are a great way to keep your dog mentally stimulated, encouraging problem-solving and slower eating.
Easter Fun with All the Family
Easter should be a fun time for your family, and following these guidelines will guarantee it!
Want more advice on how to transition your pet over to a raw food diet, or fancy checking out our selection? Have a browse here and make the switch to keep your pup healthy and happy today.
