Keeping your pets safe over Easter

30 March 2021

The Lost Dogs’ Home is encouraging all fur parents to be vigilant about pet safety this Easter.

Everyone knows chocolate eggs left around the house or garden can cause disaster if eaten by curious
animals, but many other hazards are not so well known.

With life getting back to normal after the pandemic lockdowns, many people are again socialising at home,
but lots of pets have become used to the quiet experienced during the period of self-isolation.

“Create a calm, quiet spot for your pet away from the noise,” Lost Dogs’ Home veterinarian Dr Ashe
Mooney recommended.

“Exercise your pet before any guests arrive so that they are more settled.”

Victorians are also travelling again and some are bringing their pets.

The Lost Dogs’ Home urges pet owners to conduct a safety check of their accommodation to minimise the
possibility of animals stumbling upon Easter food, poisons and ticks, or slipping through bad fencing.

“Now we’re heading back to holiday houses and hotels, some of which may not have been used in a while,
get on your hands and knees so you’re at dog height and search for hazards before letting your pet run
loose,” Dr Mooney said.

“You should also check if the property is secure to avoid your pet escaping and getting into trouble.”

When it comes to hazards such as ticks, keep your pet’s fur short, check paws (especially between the
toes) after walks, and regularly administer an anti-parasitic product that prevents ticks.

When travelling to New South Wales or Queensland, it is very important to make sure your pet has
heartworm prevention, as heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes and is much more common in these
states.

“The disease can be costly to treat, and is often fatal, so prevention is always best!” Dr Mooney said.

Things to watch out for:

Festive food – Onions, garlic, sultanas, avocado, xylitol, macadamia nuts, alcohol and coffee are all
commonly ingested by pets, and they’re also common ingredients in festive food. Hot cross buns, which
contain raisins, are easy for dogs to steal from the kitchen counter, so be careful how you store them.
These foods are toxic in different ways, which will change your vet’s treatment plan. It is best to stop your
dogs having access to these foods and always take pets to the vet immediately if they have ingested them.

Easter decorations — The plastic grass often used to line Easter baskets can become lodged in an
animal’s intestines, causing vomiting, diarrhoea and other health problems. After your kids open their
baskets make sure you throw the Easter grass in the bin and vacuum the carpet if necessary.

Easter egg hunts — The toxic components of chocolate are caffeine and theobromine. When a dog eats
a piece of chocolate these two compounds can cause them to vomit and have diarrhoea, or in more severe
cases, may lead to seizures or death. Make sure your pets don’t stumble across hidden Easter eggs before
your kids do.

Easter lilies – Easter lilies are extremely poisonous to cats and just a small amount can kill a cat. Even
small ingestions can result in kidney failure. Other common flowers and plants that are gifted at holiday
time, such as Bird of Paradise, Jerusalem Cherry or philodendron, can also make a pet sick. If in doubt,
take a picture of the ingested plant and call your vet.

Easter costumes – It may look cute to dress your pet up as the Easter Bunny or a baby chicken, but this
can be stressful for your animal and cause injuries. The outfit may get caught on objects and restrict
movement or even suffocate your pet.

Ticks – Ticks are not common in urban or suburban Melbourne, but they are quite common in rural areas
or even urban areas with longer grass. Now we’re heading away camping and to holiday homes, we need
to be more vigilant. There are different types of ticks which cause different symptoms, so it’s best to bring
your dog to the vet immediately. If you have removed the tick, place it into a container so that the vet can
identify it. The disease can be costly to treat, and is often fatal, so prevention is always best!

Mosquitos — It is expected to be a wet Easter and mosquitoes breed in both natural waterways and any
artificial pools of water around your house. They can transmit heartworm – a parasite that feeds on the
blood in an animal’s lungs and heart. The best way to prevent this is with products you can buy at a vet
clinic or pet store.

Under or overheating — Do not leave pets outside if the weather is very cold. Cats are prone to spending
too much time in front of the heater during cooler months, causing hyperthermia. Dogs can easily overheat
outside on a hot day and should never be left alone at a campsite or in a car. Any time the temperature
rises above 25 degrees you should keep a close eye on your pet. If you are worried your animal has heat
stroke the best thing to do is cool it down immediately with cold water or towels and transport the animal
to the vet.

If in doubt, call your veterinarian immediately.

For further information or to organise interviews please contact:

Alex Sampson
T: 03 9321 8719
M: 0436 836 836
E: alex.sampson@dogshome.com