EASTER PET CARE GUIDE - HOW TO INCLUDE YOUR PET IN THE EASTER FUN

As a responsible and loving pet owner you want to involve your pets in the Easter festivities so we’ve compiled some do and don'ts for this Easter season.

Involve your pooch in the Easter Hunt

Everyone loves a good easter hunt, so why not involve the family pooch? Your dog will love sniffing out treats as part of his easter hunt. You can hide their dry food, or a few special treats, around the house and see how long it takes for them to sniff them out.

If you’re planning on doing a traditional chocolate Easter egg hunt for the kids, try and completely separate your pet from the fun. Make sure your dog is either safely secured or that the eggs aren’t hidden within his reach, to avoid any accidental eating of the chocolate!

Treat your pup to some of the fun

Easter can be a time of indulgence for humans, and there’s no reason why your dog can’t enjoy a special treat. There is a wide range of speciality Easter-themed dog treats that can be purchased from your local family-owned pet store, or maybe a special toy, extra playtime, or a nice long walk with the family. For dogs, spending time with you can far outweigh a food treat, so remember that your undivided attention is the best treat of all.  

If your pup is still slightly heavy-set from last season's festivities, consider giving them a vegetable snack, like a piece of carrot or cucumber (cut in a way to avoid the risk of choking). 

You can also offer a small amount of fruit, such as a banana or apple without the seeds with a small amount of peanut butter on it – just be mindful of not overfeeding fruit, as it does have high sugar content. Remember to avoid grapes, raisins, onion and avocado, as these foods can be toxic to dogs.

Don’t leave chocolate, lollies or wrappers lying around

You’re a responsible pet owner, so you’re probably well aware of the dangers sweets pose to our animals, but here’s a refresher anyway.  

Chocolates are a big no-no and are extremely toxic for dogs and cats. Ingestion of chocolate can result in vomiting, diarrhoea, hyperactivity, seizures, increased heart rate and potentially death. Xylitol, a sugar substitute found in certain lollies and certain other sweets is another extremely dangerous ingredient to be mindful of.

In addition, hot cross buns shouldn’t be fed to your pets as they can contain raisins, which are potentially harmful. Make sure your kids are aware that they can’t give these foods to your pets too!

Pro tip: Write down each place you’ve left the chocolate or lollies so there’s none forgotten and lurking around for your pet to get their paws on - and they will if left forgotten! 

Bunnies are not good presents

Each and every year, thousands of rabbits are bought as 'gifts' during Easter, only to be dumped later. Having a bunny is a long-term, expensive commitment that requires very special care. A Rabbit is not an inanimate object – it’s a living, sentient creature with its own needs. A new owner must make a long-term commitment to meet those needs for the whole lifetime of the animal and is not a decision to be taken lightly.