Easter Tips for Pets

Check out these top easter tips to make sure your pets stay safe during this year's choc fest!

Chocolate kills dogs

While activities such as Easter egg hunts are enticing for both our kids and pets alike it can be a deadly game for animals. Chocolate is toxic to pets, as it contains methylxanthines which are related to caffeine and theobromine, which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.  It can elevate your dog’s heart rate, causing hyperactivity, trembling and seizures.  Typically the darker the chocolate, the greater theobromine it contains and therefore the more poisonous it is for your pet. Whereas, white chocolate contains the least and as such is less poisonous. Chocolate can be fatal to your furry friend if large amounts are ingested. It is important to remember that even sugar substitutes in sugar-free lollies, which can be a healthier option for humans, can still be dangerous for animals. For example, common substitute xylitol may cause blood sugar levels to drop quickly, leading to seizures or liver failure. Traditionally, eggs were hard boiled and the shells were decorated with dyes. It is safe for your pets to ingest a small portion of real chicken eggs, cooked or raw and even their shell, but be careful of coloured dye.

Count the easter eggs and avoid danger

Before beginning the hunt for Easter eggs with the family, ensure you know exactly how many eggs have been hidden. That way you can keep track of the eggs retrieved so a forgotten foil wrapped egg won’t prove fatal for your dog. If you are using an Easter basket to collect the eggs, have a second basket ready to gather the chocolate wrapping. By cleaning up as you go, your pet has no chance of ingesting a stray decoration, at a later date. Decorations such as Easter grass can also be deadly for pets. The stringy embellishments can become twisted and lodged in their intestines, cutting off circulation and often requiring surgery for removal. Coloured tissue paper is a safe alternative.

Treat your pet too!

Don't worry, Easter time is not all bad news for pets! As we treat ourselves to chocolate delights our pets deserve to feel included in the festivities with a delicious pet-friendly treat too. Check out the top pick Easter treat ideas for cats and dogs.

Buy Cat Treats

Buy Dog Treats

Happy Easter from all the team at CanadaVet.com

Most Popular Pet Names of 2013

The team at CanadaVet.com would like to thank all the pet owners who participated in our Pet Names Poll. We loved hearing all the beautiful, funny, sweet and descriptive names American pet owners call their pets. We are now very pleased to announce the Most Popular Pet Names of 2013:

 

Most Popular Pet Dog Name:

This year, there was a tie between two cute pet names for dogs. If your precious pooch is called Lucy or Izzy, then your pet has the most popular name of 2013; based on statistics collected by our CanadaVet.com Pet Names Poll!

We adored names for canines inspired by famous Americans such as Helen Keller and Charlie Steinbeck -the dog that featured in John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley novel; plus the cartoon character Snoopy. American dogs called "Buddy" prove that dogs really are a man's best friend. Other animals also seem to have inspired names for pups including Ladybug and Bug. 

Daisy proved to be a popular name for both cats and dogs alike as well as names starting with Mc such as McLuvin and McPuskers. 

Most Popular Pet Cat Name:

Tigger is the most
popular cat name

It seems many cat owners must like the Winnie the Pooh series or perhaps their cat always gives them a laugh because the most popular cat name for 2013 is Tigger! The team at CanadaVet.com can just imagine all the gorgeous, ginger haired and striped tabby cats that must have been the inspiration for this popular name. There's also an American cat named after the actress/model Isabella Rossalini. It seems many cats have been given captivating and curious names by their owners including Magic, Diva, Peanut and Butterball.

Other Pet Names:

Our CanadaVet.com Pet Names Poll has revealed that many pet owners give very descriptive names to their horses including Zippy, Dirty-N-Gold and Vintage. Colourful birds are also given pretty names such as Carmen. Our Pet Names Poll has even discovered a squirrel called Monkey Toes! Some pet owners give their pet's first, middle and last names - just like their owners; such as Squishy Yolanda Steele the hamster.

Selecting the purr-fect name for your pet can prove a difficult task for some. Evidently, sometimes keeping the name simple works best. We loved the names our customers gave their animals - Yurtle for a pet turtle and Gecks for a pet gecko!

We hope you have enjoyed discovering the most popular pet names of 2013; as much as we enjoyed hearing all the classic and creative pet names chosen by American pet owners for their furry friends.