Some Easter Favorites Can Be Toxic To Your Pets

That basket full of plastic Easter eggs and chocolate may be fun for humans, but they can  be very dangerous for your pets.

If you are having an Easter egg hunt, be careful with plastic eggs. According to Dr. Julia Georgesen, they can be broken, chewed and swallowed by pets causing obstructions. Hard-boiled eggs can spoil quickly and make pets very sick. So, make sure all your eggs are accounted for after the hunt.

Plastic Easter grass can also cause problems for pets and can cause intestinal blockage that might require surgery. Use straw, tissue paper or shredded newspaper to line Easter baskets if you have curious pets.

Keep chocolate away from pets. Dr. Georgeson cautions, "Chocolate contains a chemical relative of caffeine that causes vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythms, seizures and death in both dogs and cats." The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the greater the danger.

Stay away from lilies if you have cats. The plant is toxic to cats and can be fatal, if eaten. Even drinking the water from a vase of lilies can make a cat very ill.

[CBS Chicago]