Easter is a time for celebration, spending time with your family, and eating delicious food. It's natural that you would want your dog to join in the festivities as well. But there are a lot of potential pet hazards to watch out for at Easter, including some Easter foods.
Many foods that are safe for humans aren't safe for dogs, even if you think one little bite might be harmless. The last thing you want is to have to rush your dog to an emergency vet when you should be celebrating. So here are five Easter foods that your dog should avoid, so you can keep them safe and healthy this Easter.
Five Easter foods your dog should avoid
Ham and ham bones
One little bite of ham is unlikely to hurt your dog, but you should avoid giving them a lot of ham, especially if the ham has been seasoned with garlic and onions. Ham itself is not toxic to dogs, just a little higher in fat than other meats, but some seasonings like garlic and onions are toxic to dogs and can make them sick if they eat too much.
And as tempting as it might be, you should also avoid giving your dog ham bones to chew on. If your dog doesn't chew them carefully, they can be a choking hazard or can cause an obstruction in your dog's intestines, which often requires emergency surgery. So, it's better to be safe than sorry and avoid ham altogether, no matter how much your dog begs.
Chocolate
If you're a pet owner, you likely already know that chocolate is toxic to dogs. But that doesn't mean your dog won't try to eat it anyway, as they often find chocolate irresistible. Chocolate is very common at Easter, just like with any other holiday, especially chocolate bunnies. While we know you wouldn't intentionally give your dog chocolate, some dogs may try to steal chocolate away from your kids or off the counter while you're cooking.
Some forms of chocolate, like cocoa powder, can be even more dangerous than milk chocolate. The amount of chocolate it takes to harm your dog has a lot to do with their weight and how much they eat. So if your dog does get into your chocolate, it's best to contact an emergency vet or the Animal Poison Control Center immediately, so they can come up with a plan of action for your dog.
Jelly beans
Jelly beans are another Easter favorite that dogs should avoid. In addition to being high in sugar, many jelly beans contain xylitol, a type of sugar that is very toxic to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause low blood sugar, liver failure, and even death.
Xylitol is also found in a lot of other candies, especially sugar-free varieties, and it is found naturally in some fruits, including berries and plums. But candies like jelly beans are by far the most dangerous, so check the ingredients if your dog eats any, and if they contain xylitol, contact animal poison control immediately.
Grapes and raisins
Grapes are often eaten by themselves at Easter, but raisins are often used in breads and desserts. Both grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs, so dogs should avoid eating them or anything that contains them. In the best case scenario, grapes and raisins will cause vomiting and diarrhea, but in the worst case scenario, they can cause kidney failure.
Grapes and raisins contain tartaric acid, which is the toxic culprit. Different varieties of grapes and raisins have different amounts of tartaric acid, but it is best to just assume that all types of grapes and raisins will harm your dog.
Dressing/stuffing
Finally, avoid giving your dog dressing or stuffing at Easter. This is mainly because dressing and stuffing may contain garlic, onions, and other vegetables that could be toxic to dogs. As with ham, while a little bit probably won't hurt your dog, large amounts can, especially if your dog is small. Of course, the ingredients depend on how the dressing or stuffing is prepared, but generally, it's best to just avoid giving it to your dog altogether.
Easter should be a time of celebration and joy, not spent worrying about your dog because they ate something they shouldn't have. Sometimes dogs get into things by accident, so you want to keep a close eye on them and also avoid feeding them anything from this list. If your dog does eat something they shouldn't reach out to an emergency vet or pet poison control as soon as possible, especially if they start showing signs of illness.
If you want your dog to join in on the Easter festivities, there are plenty of dog-safe Easter treats available in pet stores that you could give them instead.