Spring is here. It’s the time of year where our pets are able to spend more time outside, perhaps taking advantage of a yard in the warmer weather. The spring season is usually celebrated with a wide variety of flowers, placed around the house. But some of these flowers can be harmful to our pet friends, so it’s important to consider where they best fit in our homes.

If you celebrated Easter this past weekend be sure to be on the lookout for the following harmful objects. If left lying around, these could be dangerous for your pets.

Easter Baskets

While they’ve become a tradition in most families, Easter Baskets can present problems for pets. Easter baskets that contain fake grass or paper clippings as basket fillers, can be harmful to pets if ingested. Plastic grass is an attractive toy to most cats, but runs the risk of blocking intestines or causing irritation.

Candies are always dangerous for pets to ingest, as most of them are chocolates, and chocolate is very harmful for dogs. Any other sugar-based candy runs the risk of being toxic to pets, as it typically contains xylitol, which can cause liver failure in dogs.

Household flowers

While beautiful and a sure sign of spring, Easter lilies are very dangerous to our feline friends. Eating the entire pod, both petals and stamen, has been ruled but the FDA as extremely dangerous. Even if your cat eats a small piece, they could still be in danger. Be sure to get in touch with your local veterinary hospital in Bend, Oregon.

Another flower to be aware of is the cyclamen, which comes in a wide variety of colors. These flowers are toxic to both cats and dogs. The petals of these flowers might cause your pets to have diarrhea or vomit, but ingesting the tubers can cause seizures and in some cases death. It’s important to know what flowers your pets might not react well with.

Pet Safety        

While we’ve covered it before, it’s always important to keep your pet’s safety in mind when a large holiday rolls around. If your front door will be opening and closing, it’s important to have your pet’s collar on at all times. If you have a pet that has a tendency to bolt out of the door, it may be best to keep them in an area that is away from the opening and closing door.

Always consider your pet’s comfort. If you’re planning to have a house-full, be sure that your pet has space to stay calm. If your pet normally naps in the living room, and it’s going to be full of guests for the weekend, consider moving their bed into a quieter room, so that your pet knows where their safe space is. Remember to feed them at normal times, and keep up your daily routine with your pet. If you miss a meal or a walk, your pet may become more neurotic or stressed out during the weekend.