Tucker Says April 2009





Many families have Easter/Springtime traditions - hidden eggs, baskets of candy, spring plants.  Just because it is a tradition doesn’t mean it is safe - especially for your pets.



1:   Colored Eggs: I had never thought about this one, but emergency vet clinics say they get a few each year.  People  hard boil eggs, color them,  and then hide them.  But the eggs don’t all get found - until they are spoiled and your dog discovers them. Hard-boiled eggs need to be refrigerated if anyone is going to eat them.  If you want to hide or display your colorful creations, blow out the egg first.  (Many sites on-line can tell you how.)

2: Chocolate: Most people are aware that chocolate is not good for dogs.  “But the baskets were hidden”.  Remember with a dog, things must be more than “out of sight”; they must be “out of scent”.  Better yet, out of reach.  You could fill baskets with pretty “coupons” which could be traded in for the chocolate and other candy.

3: Plastic grass: The plastic strips may be colorful, but they are not digestible and can cause blockages.  “Why would a dog eat plastic?”  Well, if you place loose candy in the basket, the grass is covered with sugar and smells good.  As a friend says about his black lab,”To Buddy, it’s an edible world.”  I heard this tip last Christmas: shredded wrapping paper makes a colorful packing material - and it is bio-degradable.

4: Springtime plants: There are long lists of plants that are toxic to pets.  Easter lilies are not toxic to dogs, but very toxic to cats.  Many of the wonderful spring plants, like daffodils and tulips, have bulbs, which are toxic.  And think what they look like - little dirty balls.  Fun!  Be very careful when using these plants. Or consider the many plants that are totally safe for pets - carnations, pansies, nasturtiums -even we could eat them.



Make SAFETY a new tradition this year.