*Special Easter Treat Recipe Included*
Holidays, Easter Hunts, Fun, and Chocolate. The long Easter weekend is the perfect time to put your feet up and indulge in some of your most favourite treats and cooking. However, in order to ensure your pets enjoy their long Easter weekend with you at home just as much, it is important to take some precautions.
Easter Treats and Pets
During the season when the supply of chocolate is plentiful, it is important to remember that while a great treat for humans, chocolate is toxic to our pets. It should not be consumed by our four-legged friends. The ingestion of chocolate can result in serious illness due to a chemical called theobromine as well as caffeine, which are both in chocolate and our pets cannot digest.
As instinct, our pets are prone to scavenge for small treats and may even find ways to steal food from the table. This is why it is extremely important to keep chocolate and other harmful foods out of our pet’s reach as well as inform children in the house (who may be easier persuaded by our furry friends) of the danger these treats may have on our pets.
Other harmful treats include Hot Cross Buns (raisins, currants & sultanas), fatty meats from our Easter dinner, human gravy, blue cheeses from the cheeseboard and nuts – especially Macadamia nuts which can make dogs wobbly, weak, and sick.
However, if your pet accidentally ingests a harmful substance, you need to recognise the signs of chocolate/food poisoning. Some of these signs will include vomiting, panting, and increased thirst. To keep your pets included in the festivities safely, why not prepare or purchase some Easter themed treats for them? Check out our recipe below!
Festivity Noise and your Pet
Easter is a time of celebration which brings families together, especially kids, to enjoy Easter egg hunts. This year is a little different as our social bubbles limit the number of guests. However, after a long period of isolation, our smaller pets will find any noisier gathering stressful.
It is important to look after them and ensure that your pet has a quiet, safe space to escape to, should they need it. On the other hand, if you find that your pet enjoys the socialisation, why not get them involved in their own little hunt by laying out your home-made treats.
Easter Decorations and our Pets
As part of tradition and decoration, we often make up Easter Baskets and decorate with faux grass and Easter ornaments. Unfortunately, our four-legged friends, especially cats, also find these appealing. Filler material such as straw or artificial grass can be easily swallowed, posing a serious threat of digestive obstruction. Symptoms will include vomiting, bloating as well as inability to pass the swallowed material, resulting in surgery.
An Easter Egg hunt is a very old tradition which is always great fun amongst children. However, for a household with nosy pets, we suggest making a note of all the hidden eggs in the garden to ensure no plastic egg is left behind. The shiny plastic will attract any dog or cat and pose a serious threat if accidentally swallowed. Should your pet accidentally ingest any decorations, contact your vet immediately for emergency treatment.
*Treat Making*
Now that you are ready for a safe Easter, why not make this easy and delicious treat for your companion so they can enjoy their day just as much as you! We guarantee they will love them. Only 3 Ingredients and all in under 25 minutes.
For this recipe you will need:
- 130g of rolled oats
- 120g of natural peanut butter (with no xylitol)
- 1 large ripe banana
Method:
- Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius
- Place your oats in a blender and grind until it turns into a powder
- Place your banana and peanut butter in a bowl and beat together until a smooth consistency is formed
- Set aside a tablespoon of the oatmeal flour and pour the rest into your banana and peanut butter mixture and mix until combined
- Dust your work surface with the tablespoon of oatmeal and roll the dough to a quarter of an inch thickness
- Cut into desired shapes and place on a baking sheet
- Bake your treats in the oven for 10 minutes or until the edges begin to brown
- Wait until cool and store in a dry and cool place for up to a week
- And most importantly ENJOY! (Leo certainly did)
Are they done yet?
