{"id":9791,"date":"2026-03-31T15:52:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T15:52:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=9791"},"modified":"2026-03-31T15:52:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T15:52:31","slug":"easter-causes-pet-poisonings-each-year-heres-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=9791","title":{"rendered":"Easter Causes Pet Poisonings Each Year. Here\u2019s What You Need To Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"embed-base image-embed embed-1\" role=\"presentation\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:66.67%;position:relative\" class=\"image-embed__placeholder\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 960px)\" sizes=\"50vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imageio.forbes.com\/specials-images\/imageserve\/69cbe38f657ce51a2bca11f2\/Grey-cat-wears-Easter-bunny-ears-near-a-gold-Easter-egg-\/0x0.jpg?width=960&amp;dpr=1 1x, https:\/\/imageio.forbes.com\/specials-images\/imageserve\/69cbe38f657ce51a2bca11f2\/Grey-cat-wears-Easter-bunny-ears-near-a-gold-Easter-egg-\/0x0.jpg?width=960&amp;dpr=1.5 1.5x, https:\/\/imageio.forbes.com\/specials-images\/imageserve\/69cbe38f657ce51a2bca11f2\/Grey-cat-wears-Easter-bunny-ears-near-a-gold-Easter-egg-\/0x0.jpg?width=960&amp;dpr=2 2x\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"bMqrj\">\n<p><span style=\"-webkit-line-clamp:2\" class=\"Ccg9Ib-7 _8XF2kHYM\">Take precautions to keep furry family members safe at Easter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><small class=\"pGGCM2aD\">getty<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>While Easter can bring fun festivities like egg hunts and candy-filled baskets, it can also unfortunately lead to an urgent hop to the emergency room for dogs and cats. <\/p>\n<p>The main culprits for cats are Easter lilies, according to Tina Wismer, veterinarian, board certified veterinary toxicologist and senior director of <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspca.org\/pet-care\/aspca-poison-control\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.aspca.org\/pet-care\/aspca-poison-control\" aria-label=\"ASPCA Poison Control\">ASPCA Poison Control<\/a>. In 2025, calls to the ASPCA Poison Control hotline (888-426-4435; $110 consulting fee) about cats eating lilies spiked 50% on Easter and the days surrounding the holiday.<\/p>\n<p>If a dog eats a lily, it typically leads to mild stomach upset, which isn\u2019t too concerning. But cats and lilies do not mix.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith cats, it takes such small amounts. A bite of a leaf or a bite of a petal or grooming the pollen off their face is enough to cause kidney failure,\u201d Dr. Wismer said. \u201cIt\u2019s horribly, horribly toxic. If you have a cat, no lilies in the household ever, please.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"embed-base image-embed embed-2\" role=\"presentation\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"bMqrj\">\n<p><span style=\"-webkit-line-clamp:2\" class=\"Ccg9Ib-7 _8XF2kHYM\">Calls to the ASPCA Poison Control hotline about cats eating lilies spike on Easter and Mother\u2019s Day. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><small class=\"pGGCM2aD\">Courtesy of ASPCA<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The biggest Easter danger for dogs is chocolate, which is always a problem. In 2025, the ASPCA Poison Control hotline received over 51,000 calls about pets eating chocolate. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat works out to an average of 140 calls about that a day,\u201d she said. \u201cThat goes up by 10 to 15 percent during and around Easter. It\u2019s usually a couple days before and a few days after.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While chocolate is toxic to both dogs and cats, dogs tend to get into the most trouble.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith cats and chocolate, they like to sample it. They\u2019ll take a bite or two, but because cats don\u2019t have sweet taste buds, they don\u2019t eat enough to be a problem \u2014 unlike dogs,\u201d she said. \u201cFor dogs, of course, the entire pan of brownies is one serving.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The smaller the dog, the less chocolate they have to eat to show symptoms, which range from vomiting and diarrhea to elevated heart rates, tremors and seizures. Unsweetened baking chocolate and dark chocolate are more concentrated \u2014 and more toxic \u2014 than milk chocolate by weight.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"embed-base image-embed embed-3\" role=\"presentation\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"bMqrj\">\n<p><span style=\"-webkit-line-clamp:2\" class=\"Ccg9Ib-7 _8XF2kHYM\">Keep chocolate Easter bunnies, eggs and any form of chocolate candy away from dogs. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><small class=\"pGGCM2aD\">Courtesy of ASPCA<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"subhead-embed\">Keeping Dogs And Cats Safe From Easter Pet Poisonings<\/h2>\n<p>Other Easter dangers for pets include sugar-free candy and gum that contain the sugar substitute <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/consumers\/consumer-updates\/paws-xylitol-its-dangerous-dogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/consumers\/consumer-updates\/paws-xylitol-its-dangerous-dogs\" aria-label=\"xylitol\">xylitol<\/a>, raisins (since grapes are toxic to dogs and cats), and even the plastic grass in Easter baskets, according to Dr. Wismer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe also see an issue with the plastic Easter grass that can actually cause an obstruction in animals in their intestinal tract. And because it\u2019s kind of sharp and skinny, it sometimes can cut through the intestinal tract,\u201d she said. \u201cSo use shredded paper or something that\u2019s a little more environmentally friendly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To help keep pets safe on and around Easter, Dr. Wismer recommends that if Easter baskets are set out overnight, make sure pets are behind a closed door or baby gate so they don\u2019t have access to the baskets.<\/p>\n<p>She stressed the importance of warning children and guests about keeping Easter lilies, chocolate and other toxins away from dogs and cats.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s training your children and training your family that we need to be careful with these items around our pets,\u201d she said. \u201cJust because it\u2019s good for you doesn\u2019t necessarily mean it\u2019s good for them, too.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"embed-base image-embed embed-4\" role=\"presentation\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"bMqrj\">\n<p><span style=\"-webkit-line-clamp:2\" class=\"Ccg9Ib-7 _8XF2kHYM\">Train your family to keep Easter baskets away from pets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><small class=\"pGGCM2aD\">getty<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>If you\u2019re hosting guests for Easter dinner, discourage them from feeding pets from the table to avoid stomach upset or pancreatitis. Additionally, keep purses off the ground and out of reach of dogs and cats since they might contain pills, food, sugar-free gum, Ibuprofen or Tylenol, Dr. Wismer advised.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGrandma\u2019s purse is a very dangerous place if you\u2019re a dog,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n<p>If a pet is showing symptoms or you suspect they\u2019ve eaten chocolate, lilies or another toxic treat, don\u2019t hesitate to seek veterinary help.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlways call your veterinarian first and follow their advice,\u201d Dr. Wismer said. \u201cIf they\u2019re not open, you can certainly give your local emergency clinic or us a call.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Hopefully, by taking precautions, everyone in the family can enjoy a fun and safe Easter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s all about prevention,\u201d Dr. Wismer said. \u201cYou want to enjoy time with your family, not spend it at the emergency clinic.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/jenreeder\/2026\/03\/31\/easter-sees-pet-poisonings-spike-heres-how-to-protect-dogs-and-cats\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Take precautions to keep furry family members safe at Easter. getty While Easter can bring fun festivities like egg hunts and candy-filled baskets, it can also unfortunately lead to an urgent hop to the emergency room for dogs and cats. The main culprits for cats are Easter lilies, according to Tina Wismer, veterinarian, board certified<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9792,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-brand-spotlights"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9791","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9791"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9791\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}