The winter blues are over and spring is right around the corner. I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to the green grass, the warm breeze, and… Easter! The chocolate and marshmallow peeps have me wishing Easter was today. My parents used to hide our baskets, and after we found them, my siblings and I would always swap candy. I would barter and give most of my chocolate away for peeps (I know a lot of people don’t like peeps, but I do!). Those were great times and memories I’ll cherish forever.
This is a time of year for happy memories, and we are here to help you keep it that way. Easter, in many ways, can be more dangerous for your pup than Halloween. The chocolate, marshmallow peeps, and even the easter basket grass can be very dangerous. They ALL pose serious consequences, including toxicity and blockage, if your pup finds the basket first. Here are some tips for avoiding trips to the emergency vet and ultimately avoiding bad memories!
Hiding the basket
We recommend hiding the basket in the morning before your kids wake up rather than hiding it overnight when your curious pup is not being supervised. Have a “Candy free zone” within the house where your dog can stay while everyone looks for their baskets. Dogs tend to follow humans around the house and will naturally be inquisitive when your child finds their basket. To top it off, dogs can be sneaky and QUICK. If the basket is hidden low, your dog could easily sneak a bite before you know it.
Emptying the basket
After the thrill of finding the basket and pawing through its contents, we recommend putting the candy in a plastic container for easy storage and discarding or storing the plastic grass for next year. We all know what can happen when it is left on the counter. It can easily fall to the floor for your dog to inspect, or your pup may decide to counter-surf while you are not home.
Talk with your kids
It’s important that everyone in the house understands that their pup can get really sick if they get into any of the candy. Have a designated place in the home to store the candy that is out of the dog’s reach. Dogs can, however, have eggs, but not the foil-wrapped kind!
Prep a sweet treat for your pup
Understandably, we feel like our dogs miss out on holiday fun sometimes. The good news is, they don’t have to! Prepare a no-bake Easter Egg Treat for your pup. You can also soak whole carrots in broth and freeze them overnight for a crunchy Easter treat!
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