Easter Toxins for Dogs

7 Dangerous Easter Toxins for Dogs

Updated 03/01/2024 by Ava Jaine

With spring blooming all around, Easter is knocking at your door. Hold onto your hats because your dog might just dive headfirst into those tempting Easter baskets or try to grab a bite of that delicious Easter feast when you’re not looking.

It’s crucial to be on high alert and keep a watchful eye on your fur buddy, especially with so many Easter-related items in your home. This season, be extra cautious of the following dangerous Easter toxins for dogs.

Fresh early spring purple and pink hyacinth flowers
 

1. Toxic Flowers for Dogs:

While the springtime blooms around Easter are beautiful, they can pose a serious threat to your pup’s health. If you have a dog with a tendency for digging and chewing through your garden, it’s best to steer clear of planting the following flowers, as they can be deadly.

Flowers That Are Poisonous to Dogs:

  • Azalea (coma, death)
  • Bluebells (slows heart rate)
  • Cyclamen (roots cause death)
  • Foxglove (heart failure)
  • Lily of the Valley (stops the heart)
  • Oleander (death)
  • Rhododendron (seizures, cardiac arrest)
  • Sago Palms (liver failure)

The following lovely spring flowers are toxic and will make your dog very sick.

Toxic Flowers for Dogs:

  • Begonias
  • Buttercups
  • Daffodils
  • Elderberry
  • Hyacinth
  • Ivy
  • Lupin
  • Sweetpea
  • Tulips
  • Wild cherry tree
Women digging in a flower garden with her dog sitting beside her.
 

Are Easter Lilies Harmful To Dogs?

If your dog takes a bite of an Easter Lily, they will most likely get diarrhea and an upset tummy.

If they eat more than just a bite, take them to the vet to prevent an intestinal blockage.  Even though Lilies aren’t necessarily “deadly” to dogs, they can still cause intestinal and digestive issues.

Are Easter Lilies Toxic to Other Pets?

Easter lilies are extremely poisonous to cats.  If a cat sips a small amount of water that the lily was sitting in, smells the lily pollen and licks their nose, or consumes the leaves or pedals of the lily, it can be deadly.

Ingesting even a small amount can result in kidney failure and death.  So, if you have a cat, don’t allow lilies into your home.

 

2. Fertilizers and Mulch:

Garden Fertilizers: Many folks start planting their spring flowers around Easter, which means using toxic fertilizers and pesticides to help the plants grow.

Keep your pup away from your garden chemicals, they are very poisonous to dogs.

Mulch: Some types of gardening mulch can be toxic to your dog.  Cocoa bean mulch is made from cocoa shells and contains theobromine, which is very toxic to dogs.

Pine needle mulch is sharp, and if ingested can puncture the lining of your dog’s stomach.  So, skip the cocoa bean and pine needle mulch.

It’s best to stick with cedar mulch, untreated wood mulch, or hemlock mulch instead.

Flowers That Are Safe for Dogs:

  • There are plenty of dog-friendly flowers that you can plant this year, so you don’t have to worry about your curious pup swallowing something toxic.

    Check out our list of Colorful Dog-Safe flowers for your garden to help you create a dog-friendly paradise this season.

variety of chocolate easter candy in the middle of green easter grass
 

3. Toxic Easter Treats:

A lot of the tempting Easter treats we love can be downright risky for our pups. From chocolaty eggs to the tasty dishes on the Easter spread, our dogs will more than likely be eyeing things that could spell toxic trouble. Here are some treats that are Easter dangers to dogs.

Chocolate:

Why is chocolate toxic to dogs?

Our beloved chocolate is toxic because it contains a chemical called theobromine and caffeine. A dog’s system can’t break down theobromine and caffeine chemicals like people can.

Dark Chocolate: The darker the chocolate, the more potent it is to your dog.  Baker’s chocolate is the deadliest of them all. 

White Chocolate: Even though white chocolate doesn’t contain enough of the theobromine chemical to cause death, it is still fatty and can cause pancreatitis issues in your dog.

If you know that your dog has consumed chocolate, don’t wait for symptoms to occur, call your veterinarian right away. 

The earlier, the better.  Your dog has a better chance of recovery if treated quickly.

 

Raisins:

Raisins and Grapes are toxic to all dogs, so keep these sweet babies to yourself, no sharing! 

Hot cross buns contain dried fruits like currants and raisins.  If your dog eats even a small quantity of these dried raisins, they can suffer severe kidney failure.

4. Toxic Food for Dogs:

Fatty foods, sweet desserts, dairy products, and even meats, like the delicious Easter ham, can cause pancreatitis in your dog. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog any table scraps to keep them safe.

Easter Foods That Are Toxic to Dogs:

  • Mushrooms (some varieties): Shock, Death
  • Walnuts / Macadamia Nuts: Muscle & Nervous System Damage
  • Onions & Garlic: Blood Cell Damage, Anemia
  • Fatty Foods / Desserts: Pancreatitis
  • Dairy: Excessive Diarrhea
  • Alcohol: Coma, Death
colorful easter eggs laying on easter grass
 

5. Food Coloring:

Coloring eggs is my favorite thing to do at Easter Time.  But, did you know that some food coloring isn’t safe for dogs? 

Artificial food dye is known to cause behavioral issues, cancerous tumors, and allergic reactions in dogs.  Avoid giving your dog any treats that contain food coloring.

If you make your own homemade dog treats and want to use a safe alternative, try all-natural food coloring instead.

If your pup gets into the food coloring containers, contact your vet.  Consuming too much dye can make your dog very sick.

6. Artificial Sweeteners:

Sugar-free candies and some baked goods contain the chemical, Xylitol.  Xylitol is toxic to dogs. You can find this stuff lurking in your toothpaste, bubble gum, and some gummy vitamins. 

Xylitol releases insulin in your dog’s blood stream at a rapid rate, which can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar. This nasty chemical can also cause liver failure and even death.

 

7. Easter Grass:

Easter grass is adorable in its range of rainbow colors, but it gets everywhere, just like the Christmas tinsel.

Vacuum your floors regularly to pick up all of those colorful strays before your pup does. Dogs may swallow it in mouthfuls, which can cause an obstruction that may need to be surgically removed.

Easter Eggs in a basket
 

What Should I Do If My Dog Is Poisoned?

If your dog has consumes something toxic, call your vet immediately.  Don’t wait for symptoms to appear.  Consuming any of these Easter toxins for dogs is considered an emergency and can be fatal.

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