With Easter right around the corner, which traditional Easter foods should you keep out of your dog’s reach? Here are three bunny day treats to be sure to keep to yourself.
1. Mimosas
Or beer, or whiskey, or Prosecco…Your dog should absolutely, positively never have alcohol. Not even a sip! We’ve seen too many dogs given alcohol, both accidentally and intentionally, just to end up at the emergency vet. Alcohol is toxic to pets, even in very small amounts.
Dogs process alcohol differently from humans, so even a teaspoon of beer could be enough to make him feel the effects. In the short term, your dog could become dizzy, start vomiting, and lose control of his motor functions. Long term? He could have difficulty breathing, develop tremors, or even die.
If you want to imbibe a little this Easter, go right ahead! Just don’t let your dog join in.
2. Glazed Ham
If you’re going all out this Easter with a big platter of ham, good for you! Just don’t let your pet’s pleading puppy dog eyes convince you to give him his own celebratory plate. Overly-glazed or salty meats aren’t just unhealthy for dogs, they can actually make them sick.
Your dog doesn’t need the incredible amount of sodium present in just a small bit of corned beef, prosciutto, or bacon; too much sodium at once and he could even suffer from ion poisoning, particularly if he has kidney or heart disease. The sugar used for the glaze on your ham is also chock full of empty calories, and if the ham was made with garlic or onions – harmful for dogs! – you could be in trouble.
3. Mashed Potatoes
It wouldn’t be a holiday without mashed potatoes, and potatoes themselves are not bad for your dog! Unfortunately, mashed potatoes are, and they’re a key ingredient on almost all holiday tables, including at Easter.
Mashed potatoes typically include a fair amount of both milk/cream and butter, both of which are high in fat and in lactose. Most dogs are lactose intolerant which means dairy products won’t sit well on their stomachs. And really, does your dog need all those extra calories, anyway?
Easter is one of our favorite holidays, and there are plenty of ways you can still celebrate with your dog! Dress him in a bunny ear headband, buy him an egg-shaped squeaky toy, or simply pet him extra vigorously while you watch the kids tear apart their Easter baskets.
