By Simone Carter and Gabi Ingle

What did the Easter Bunny say to the carrot? It’s been nice gnawing you!

Easter isn’t just for bunnies! There are lots of paws-itively fun ways to include your dogs in Easter festivities, like dog-friendly decorations, activities, and treats!

Did you know dogs see Easter décor differently than their 2-legged friends? According to Stanley Coren, PhD, DSc, FRSC, of Psychology Today’s Canine Corner, “Dogs do see colors, but the colors that they see are neither as rich, nor as many as those seen by humans.” Based on research conducted by Jay Neitz, of the Neitz Color Vision Lab at the University of Washington, The American Kennel Club recommends blue and yellow items for optimal visibility by dogs. Blue and yellow decorations are more likely to catch your dogs’ eyes, and decorations in shades of red are less likely to grab their attention.

When left unattended, plastic Easter eggs can be dangerous for dogs. As a fun and safe alternative to an Easter egg hunt, hide yellow tennis balls in an area safe for play. Your dogs will have a ball (or several)! And if your dogs hound you for treats, try this carrot pupcake recipe from Veterinary Specialty Care’s Outreach Coordinator and Client Advocate, Natalie Garber. Bone appetit!

Easter Carrot Pupcakes

• 1.5 c. grated carrot (reserve .5 c to sprinkle on top)
• *1.5 c. whole wheat flour
• 1/4 c. rolled oats
• 2 tbsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 c. applesauce
• 2 free-range eggs (beaten)
  *If your pup has an intolerance or allergy to wheat or grain you can easily substitute a gluten-free flour option such as oat, coconut or brown rice flour. Amount of flour and length of baking time may vary accordingly.*
  
  Frosting
• 1/2 c. low-fat cream cheese (beaten)
  (or as shown in the photo, top each pupcake with 1 teaspoon (or less) of canned packed pumpkin)
  
  Directions
  
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees – spray 12 mini muffin cups or 6 standard muffin cups (or line with paper liners)
• Combine 1 c. grated carrot, applesauce and beaten eggs.
• In a separate bowl, combine flour, oats and cinnamon.
• Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, slowly, to make pupcake batter.
• Spoon batter into greased muffin tins; batter does not rise
• Bake 20 minutes, cool for 5 minutes.
• After pupcakes are cooled, frost with beaten cream-cheese (or canned-packed pumpkin)
• Decorate with remaining grated carrot

As Easter rolls around, we also want draw your attention to common household toxins to avoid. According to the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center, Easter is one of the busiest days for chocolate intoxication calls, topping Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and even Halloween! Chocolate is dangerous for our fur babies because it includes theobromine and caffeine, which they cannot easily metabolize. If you suspect your dog may have ingested any amount or kind of chocolate, please contact your veterinarian or Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435. According to Ahna Brutlag, DVM, MS, DABT, DABVT, Associate Director of Veterinary Services of the Pet Poison Helpline, some clinical signs to be on the lookout for include but are not limited to: vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, panting, restlessness, and increased heart rate.

Some additional household items to be mindful of during this season include artificial Easter grass, table foods, and herbicides. Plastic Easter grass can cause a dangerous gastrointestinal obstruction that may require surgery to remove. Table foods such as onion, garlic, macadamia nuts, grapes, and raisins are toxic to pets. As the weather warms and spring flowers bloom, keep in mind that herbicides should be safely stored where pets cannot puncture the containers, and treated yards should be dried before allowing pets to roam free.

Enjoy a paw-fect and safe Easter with your family and fur-ever friends!