Follow these tips to keep your pets safe during the spring holidays

You should take steps to make sure your pets are safe during the spring holidays.

“Spring holiday celebrations are filled with food, family, and loved ones — including our pets. It is important to consider their needs as we plan our festivities,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM. “From keeping them away from eating chocolate and candy to ensuring they have a quiet space to destress, there are many actions we can take to make sure they have a safe holiday.”

The following tips come from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).

Don’t feed pets ‘people’ food

Pets shouldn’t eat food meant for people. It can upset their stomachs or even cause them to become very ill depending on what the food is. Even in small amounts, food that pets shouldn’t eat could cause pancreatitis.

Keep candy and other sweets containing chocolate, raisins, and/or xylitol (an artificial sweetener found in many candies and gum) away from pets. Those ingredients can be especially hazardous.

Other foods that dogs cannot eat include the following: Apple seeds, apricot pits, avocados, cherry pits, chives, coffee, garlic, grapes, gum, mushroom plants, mustard seeds, onions, peach pits, potato leaves and stems, raisins, salt, tomato leaves and stems, walnuts, and more.

Keep holiday decorations out of reach

Keep holiday decorations out of reach so your pets don’t eat them.

That includes Easter grass, other basket fillers, candles, lights, plastic eggs/toys. If your pet eats them, it could cause an intestinal blockage or other injury.

Some of the festive flowers or plants you might want to put out could also pose a danger. For example, Easter lilies are highly toxic to cats.

Make sure pets are wearing ID tags and are microchipped

If you have family or friends coming and going over the holidays this could make it easy for a pet to sneak out and get lost.

Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags and their microchips are updated with your current contact information.

Offer pets a quiet place to be comfortable

If you’re having a holiday part, you should set aside a quiet space just for your pet so they can hide if they’re feeling stressed. Make sure that area includes their food, water, litter pan, or anything else they might need.

Bunnies, chicks are long-term pets

Do not surprise someone with a real bunny, chick, or duckling for the holiday.

Those animals are long-term commitments and require specialized care and feed. Many people end up handing the animals over to local animal control or animal shelters when they realize how much work they are.

It is illegal in Michigan to sell baby chicks, rabbits, ducklings, or other fowl or game that have been dyed or artificially colored.

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