Easter Treats That Could Be Dangerous for Your Pet—What to Watch Out For

Key Takeaways

Chocolate

Chocolate is one of the sweetest parts of Easter, but chocolate is not safe for dogs or cats. Chocolate can particularly pose a danger to outdoor pets who may romp around your yard after an egg hunt.

“If you plan to have an Easter egg hunt this year, be sure to check that all chocolate treats have been retrieved from your home or garden before you let your dog explore,” says Jimmy Brately, Veterinary Practitioner at Adaptil.

Easter Eggs

Your cat may delight in batting a colorful Easter egg across the floor, but as you might’ve guessed, Easter eggs are not safe for pets to ingest, plastic or otherwise. Make sure this timeless staple doesn’t turn into an Easter treat.

Want to have an “egg” hunt for your pets? Stick a few treats around the house and let your pet sniff them out!

Bones

If you have an Easter feast on the schedule, it’s best to keep table scraps away from your furry friends, including lamb bones. Lamb is a staple in several Easter feats, but cooked bones of any kind are unsafe for pets.

“As a key staple in many Easter roast dinners, it may be tempting to treat your dog to a bone to chew on,” Bratley says. “However, while not toxic to dogs, cooked lamb bones can splinter, which can cause your dog serious injuries such as choking, internal punctures, or blockages in the digestive tract.”

Instead of handing out bones to chew on, treat your pet to a new pet-safe chew toy.

Easter Basket Decorations

Everyone wants an Easter basket! If you’re putting together a basket for your fur children, do without the extras like the cellophane wrapping, says the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC). Cellophane and other plastic basket funsies like Easter grass can cause stomach upset if ingested by your pets.

Don’t fret! You can still give your pets a jam-packed basket of things they’ll absolutely love (and can safely eat).

Easter Lilies

Easter lilies are a flower full of tradition and make for a beautiful centerpiece on any table. However, cat owners should choose another flower to adorn their table this Easter. Lilies are, unfortunately, very toxic to our feline friends, especially the Easter lily variety.

You can still have the most floral table in town—the list of non-toxic, cat-safe flowers is lengthy. Pick a beautiful bloom like daisies, marigolds, or even roses.