AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc.org. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale.
As you鈥檙e getting ready for the arrival of the Easter Bunny, don鈥檛 forget to plan for how your dog will be involved in the holiday. Many of our can be dangerous for our dogs, but with some preparation, you鈥檒l be able to enjoy your family traditions and keep your dog safe at the same time. You can even find ways to safely involve your pet in the day鈥檚 festivities.
Don鈥檛 Share Your Meal
Unfortunately, most of our favorite Easter treats are dangerous for our dogs. Some of these foods, like chocolate bunnies, are toxic for dogs. Other Easter foods may be dangerous because they鈥檙e usually prepared with ingredients that are toxic for dogs, like onions, garlic, or xylitol. Other Easter snacks have high levels of salt or sugar, which can upset your dog鈥檚 stomach and aren鈥檛 healthy for them to eat.
Some common Easter foods you should keep away from dogs include:
- Deviled eggs
- Ham
- Cookies
- Cakes
- Chocolate eggs
- Candy
- Mashed/twice-baked potatoes
- Carrot cake
- Green beans, if prepared with butter or spices (plain green beans are safe to share with your dog)
If you鈥檙e going to have guests over for Easter brunch or dinner, be sure to keep an eye on your dog, as well as where people put plates to make sure they aren鈥檛 left unaccompanied in a location where your dog can reach.
Watch Your Glass
Many families enjoy having a drink at Easter but it鈥檚 important to not let your dog have a sip. Alcohol is toxic to dogs. Make sure that you and your guests don鈥檛 leave glasses containing alcohol on low coffee tables, on the floor, or anywhere else your dog can access it.
Egg Hunt Dangers
Easter egg hunts are fun for kids and families. But it鈥檚 a good idea to prevent your dog from getting involved. The energy of children running, laughing, yelling, and racing to grab eggs can be overstimulating for many dogs, who could begin to chase Easter egg hunters. Dogs may also grab eggs themselves. The excitement of the hunt could trigger resource guarding from dogs that might not want to relinquish the eggs they find.
The primary safety issue of Easter egg hunts for dogs is the plastic eggs, and everything put inside them. Dogs can grab and open the eggs, possibly chewing or swallowing the plastic, which could cut their mouth or cause an obstruction. Hidden chocolate and candy in Easter eggs can be especially harmful. Easter eggs also often come with small plastic and rubber toys which, if ingested, could be hazardous to your dog. It鈥檚 best to keep your dog away from any egg hunts by keeping them on a leash or in another area of your home.
If you鈥檙e hosting an Easter egg hunt, keep track of all the places where the eggs are hidden. Once the event is over, be sure to double-check that all the eggs have been found. Ensure that none have been left where your dog can find them or sitting out at a level where your dog can reach. Before letting out your dog, check your yard for any candy wrappers that may have accidentally been discarded. Foil from around chocolate bunnies and plastic candy wrappers may attractive to dogs, but it isn鈥檛 digestible.
Avoid Easter Lilies
Easter Lilies are beautiful but they shouldn鈥檛 be brought into homes with pets. Lilies are very popular gifts during the Easter season. But they鈥檙e highly toxic to cats and dogs and can lead to kidney failure.
Supervise Easter Baskets
If you鈥檙e going to be creating and gifting Easter baskets, keep the baskets in a location where your dog cannot reach them. Easter baskets may contain plastic grass, which, if eaten by dogs, can lead to an obstruction and require emergency veterinary care.
A safer alternative is to purchase . Consider making your dog their own !
Dog Easter Baskets
There are safe and enjoyable ways to involve your dog in the Easter festivities. You can make your dog their own Easter basket to open on Easter morning (with help and supervision). Easter basket treats perfect for dogs include and , as well as for the day.
Dog-Safe Easter Egg Hunt
Creating your dog鈥檚 own Easter egg hunt is a fun way to include them in the holiday. Hide small pieces of your dog鈥檚 favorite treats or toys around a room in your house, or in a fenced yard.聽 Once you鈥檝e hidden toys and treats, encourage them to start searching. Then, praise your dog as they find each hidden treat or toy. You can also use plastic Easter eggs to hide treats or scents (if you train in the sport of scent work) that your dog will search for.
If you鈥檙e going to hide treats or scents in plastic eggs, keep track of where all the eggs are hidden. Closely monitor your dog while they鈥檙e searching. Once they find the egg, you can open the eggs and give them the treats inside or reward them if they find the scent inside.
If you have multiple dogs, it鈥檚 best to set up separate Easter 鈥渆gg鈥� hunts for each dog. Having each dog search separately will prevent any conflict, resource guarding, or bullying between dogs as they search for their treats and toys. Not only is this fun for your dog, but it鈥檚 also a great way to start training toward earning a Virtual Scent Work Title through AKC with your dog.
Create Space and Supervise
If you鈥檙e having guests over for a celebration, it鈥檚 important to supervise your dog to make sure they鈥檙e comfortable, especially around children. If your dog gets overwhelmed with people in the house, it鈥檚 a good idea to have them leashed. This allows you to support your dog in making good decisions.
Alternately, you can give your dog a or in their crate, or a quiet area of the house behind a door or . This can help dogs to relax while visitors are in the house, or while you鈥檙e occupied with Easter festivities and can鈥檛 pay attention to them.