Are you and your pet dog or cat looking forward to Easter? It is great to catch up with friends and family on Easter and get away on a holiday as you indulge in hot cross buns and chocolate. Of course, for every pet dog or cat owner, it is important to consider your pets during this particular holiday season.

Overindulgence is a No-No

You may feel it is okay to go ahead and feast on your favorite food this Easter, but remember to leave this only to the human family members. No matter what holiday it is, it is never a good idea to feed your pet table scraps and make sure they steer clear of garlic, onions, macadamias and grapes as these can be dangerous food to your pet dog. Most folks will also agree that chocolate is one of the favourite Easter treats, especially in the form of Easter eggs. On the other hand, it is important to remember how dangerous this is for pet dogs. There is a compound in chocolate called theobromine that leads to irregular or increased heart rates in canines and can be fatal as well. For this reason, keep the Easter chocolate you cherish out of the reach of your pet.

Leaving Him Behind

When you are going on an Easter holiday and need to leave Fido or Fluffy behind, make sure you research the cattery or kennel facility you plan to leave your pet in.  If you are leaving your pet with a member of the family, make sure the property they live in is fenced and that your pet will have a hard time escaping should he attempt to. You might want to consider inviting a pet sitter into your home instead or a family member to ‘house sit’ as they ‘pet sit’ since a new location will cause your pet to feel stress.

On a Holiday

If you are seriously considering taking your pet on a vacation with the entire family, this can actually be an experience that is memorable for every member of the clan. However, keep this within reason and make sure your pet has identification features that are up to date, such as a microchip or a dog tag. Look for pet friendly hotels and parks as well as dog-friendly activities the entire family will enjoy. This way, the entire family will enjoy the Easter holiday.  

Mark Perissinotto has been a practicing veterinarian for over 20 years, 14 years of which he was the owner and principal of a busy multi-vet mixed animal hospital. One of the two co-founders of Vet Shop Australia, graduated from the University of Queensland with Bachelor of Veterinary Science and one of the best retailer of pet supplies Australia.