Easter is an egg-citing time for people all around the world. For young ones in particular the anticipation of what the Easter bunny might leave them has long been in their minds since Father Christmas came and went last December.
Thankfully, this year Easter Sunday falls on March 31st, just in time for the clocks to spring forward, making way for the longer and (hopefully) sunnier days ahead!
We know that many owners see their pets as more than just companions, they’re part of the family. Therefore, we’ve compiled some tips on ways to include your fur babies in your festivities as well as the hazards to watch out for to try to avoid any unwanted trips to the vets.
Pet-Friendly Easter Egg Hunt
We’re all familiar with creating an Easter egg hunt in our gardens for our little ones and there’s no reason why your beloved pooch(es) should miss out. With a strong sense of smell a dog-friendly egg hunt is the perfect way to stimulate their senses and here’s what you need to know to create the ultimate doggo easter egg hunt this Easter.
1. Plastic eggs: to maintain the ‘egg’ theme why not look to find plastic eggs, which separate in half for you to place a treat into – even better eggs with holes will allow for your pooch(es) to sniff out the treats. Remember, it’s best to avoid eggs so small that your dog could swallow them.
2. Choose your egg hunt environment: a private garden is an ideal location for a pet-friendly Easter egg hunt as first of all your dog(s) can be off the lead and secondly, they’ll be familiar with the environment. If you do choose to do your egg hunt elsewhere, keep your dog(s) on the lead and guide them to where your treats have been hidden to avoid other dogs getting their paws on them.
3. Choose your egg hunt treats: Dogs are guided by their nose so for best results you’re going to want to choose treats that are highly scented for them to sniff out.
4. Fill your eggs & devise your egg hunt: Now you’ve got your treats and eggs it’s time to fill them and place them in easy-to-access locations. Avoid anything at a height that could cause your furry companion to injure themselves. For added peace of mind, you could also draw a map of the locations where you’ve placed your loot to avoid missing any eggs and them being found later without supervision.
5. On your marks, get set, and go! With your dog-friendly Easter egg hunt all set, there’s just one thing left to do – let the games commence. Whether you have one, two, three or more doggos make sure to keep an eye on them. Once they’ve sniffed out an egg, give them praise and open it for them rather than let them break it open as they could break and ingest the plastic. Also, if there’s one more dominating dog try to hold them back to give the other dog(s) a turn at finding an egg.
We hope your dogs enjoy seeking out their Easter eggs and of course, the reward of their delicious treat. However, be mindful that treats should be given occasionally alongside a healthy diet.
Dog-Friendly Carrot Cake Recipe
If an Easter egg hunt isn’t for you, how about baking your dog(s) their very own cake, and what cries Easter more than a dog-friendly carrot cake.
There are plenty of great dog-friendly recipes for owners to choose from, we thought this one from the Blue Cross would satisfy your dog’s peanut butter cravings.
Ingredients:
170g liquified coconut oil
1 tsp alcohol-free vanilla extract
227ml of pure honey
170g xylitol-free peanut butter (xylitol can be toxic to dogs)
Two whisked eggs
100g shredded carrots
256g wholewheat flour
2 tsp baking soda
Method:
1. Mix the coconut oil, vanilla extract, honey, peanut butter and eggs in a mixing bowl until combined
2. Add the shredded carrot and mix
3. Mix in the wholewheat flour and baking soda
4. Spread the mixture into your cake tin with your rubber spatula, making sure to smooth the surface
5. Place your cake into the oven for 20 minutes at 180 degrees celsius
6. Once cooked, take your cake out of the cake tin and place it on a heat-proof surface
7. Use your rubber spatula to ‘ice’ the top of your cake with peanut butter
Now your cake is ready to serve a small slice up to your beloved hound, enjoy!
Food & Environmental Hazards for Pets
Dogs and cats are both naturally inquisitive so when it comes to Spring and the Easter holiday it’s best not to let your guard down and remain aware of the common hazards around during this time of year.
What’s more, if you are fortunate enough to be holidaying and have organised a pet sitter to care for your pet(s) in your absence, sharing your knowledge on the dangers of toxic foods and other hazards could help prevent unexpected issues for both your pet(s) and those looking after them.
1. Chocolate: it wouldn’t be Easter if we didn’t celebrate by enjoying the odd Easter egg, or two. However, many pet owners will know that chocolate is toxic to both cats and dogs. It contains a substance called theobromine which could be fatal. Darker chocolate with higher levels of cocoa will contain more theobromine than the likes of milk or white chocolate but all types of chocolate should be avoided around your pets. However, it’s not just the chocolate that can be a hazard – the packaging can also cause problems from mouth injuries and blockages so always look for a safe location to store your chocolate whether you’re a person that likes to keep their chocolate chilled in the fridge or at room temperature in a cupboard – we’re not here to judge!
2. Hot Cross Buns & Easter (Simnel) Cake: These Easter staples are classic teatime treats enjoyed during the Easter break, if not before. However, dried fruits that are contained in these foods, such as sultanas and raisins, are potentially poisonous to dogs. It doesn’t matter if your pet has consumed a small amount or more as each dog can react differently. Always keep an eye on your pet(s) when you’re baking or consuming foods which include these ingredients and remember that it’s best to keep these foods stored out of reach and/or out of sight.
3. Spring Flowers: Seeing spring bulbs such as snowdrops, daffodils and tulips come into bloom gives us hope that Spring is on its way. Dreary Winter walks suddenly become more cheerful at the sight of blooming plants, and we all start to walk with a spring in our step. However, several of these Spring bulbs are poisonous to pets including daffodils, irises, tulips, hyacinths, and crocuses. Therefore, either keep them in areas of your garden that your pet cannot access or avoid them altogether and when out on walks keep a beady eye on your pooch(es) if they’re notoriously a keen digger. Lillies are another flower to steer away from if you have pets. Toxic to both cats and dogs it’s the pollen that owners need to be aware of, as it can get onto their coats and be ingested during grooming, which can cause kidney failure.
4. Easter Lunch Bones: Food is strongly at the heart of many people’s Easter Sunday celebrations and none more so than a classic Sunday roast. While it may be tempting to offer your doggo a bone, cooked bones are best avoided as they can splinter, causing anything from constipation to a perforation of the gut which can be fatal. Even if your intention isn’t to offer your pet a bone, any removed bones should be disposed of immediately to avoid your pet(s) getting their paws on them
If you’re worried that your pet has ingested something, even if you’re not 100% certain, it’s best to seek advice from your veterinarian instead of waiting for symptoms to appear.
Easter festivities can be enjoyed by the whole family, from long walks catching sight of the spring growth emerging from trees and plants to indulgent foods and treats for all. There’s no reason why your pets can’t be a part of these celebrations too – just be aware of potential hazards to keep them safe and sound.
For added peace of mind, why not take a look at our range of Pet Insurance products? We insure both Cats and Dogs, with Senior Cat and Senior Dog policies too!
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