Easter is coming up, and much of the day is spent around food, including baskets full of goodies. You may be wondering if you should share your Easter dinner with your pet. While some traditional Easter foods are non-toxic to dogs and cats, they can still cause an upset stomach and lead to diarrhea and vomiting. Here’s a list of commonly consumed foods at Easter and whether or not to share them with your pet.
1. Ham
Easter ham is perhaps the most traditional part of Easter dinner. Ham is high in calories and fat which can cause diarrhea in dogs and cats and also lead to life-threatening pancreatitis in dogs. High calorie foods also cause weight gain in pets. Just 3 ounces of ham is over 25% of the daily calories needed in a 25 pound dog.
2. Mashed Potatoes
Although potatoes are typically harmless in dogs, make sure that your mashed potatoes are not made with any onions or garlic which are toxic to dogs. The butter and milk that are added to mashed potatoes can cause diarrhea in your pets because dogs are often lactose intolerant and cats can be as well.
3. Green Beans
These delicious and nutritious vegetables are safe and healthy for dogs and cats. Just make sure if you are feeding them to your dog that they are not mixed with any flavor additives such as garlic or onions! Also, if you add butter or oil to your green beans, it’s best not to feed them to pets as these can cause diarrhea.
4. Deviled Eggs and Hardboiled Eggs
Most families have an abundance of hardboiled eggs at Easter. Eggs on their own are usually safe for dogs and cats if they are cooked, but they may cause upset stomach in some animals. As with the mashed potatoes and green beans, be aware of the ingredients used to make the deviled eggs and if garlic or onion were used do not share these with your pets.
5. Carrot Cake
Since the Easter bunny loves carrots, many families will whip up a carrot cake for Easter. While carrot cake sounds healthy, it packs a lot of calories and sugar in each slice. It’s best to not feed this dessert to your pet due to the large amount of fat and sugar it contains. In addition, cream cheese icing can sometimes make dogs and cats sick due to the lactose in the cream cheese.
6. Chocolate Bunnies
Easter is a time of excessive chocolate! While we can safely enjoy chocolate bunnies and chocolate eggs, they are not safe for dogs and cats. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats. Be sure to keep all your Easter candy in a safe place away from your pets.
While some foods are safe for pets, it’s best not to share Easter dinner with them because of all the extras we add to the foods, like butter and garlic. You can prevent any unwanted digestive issues such as vomiting and diarrhea by sticking to your pet’s regular diet this Easter. These guidelines will help keep your dogs and cats safe. Happy Easter!