Safety Tips to Keep Your Dog 'Hoppy' this Easter

LOS ANGELES, March 22, 2018 -- While Easter and the start of spring bring fun, nice weather and celebrations, many pet parents don't realize how dangerous this time of year can be for dogs. Here are three tips from Wag! – a leading on-demand mobile app for dog walkers, sitters and boarders – to help keep your pet extra safe this time of year.

1)  Keep Easter Candy Far from Fido: While candy and other treats are fine for kids, your pup can get very sick from consuming the contents of an Easter basket. Chocolate and other types of candy can be extremely toxic for dogs. Milk chocolate contains 20 to 60 percent cacao and dark chocolate is 85 percent cacao, making it much more toxic due to the amount of caffeine and theobromine in it. Another ingredient to be aware of is xylitol, an artificial sweetener found in many sugar-free candies and chewing gum. These human treats can give your dog an upset stomach at best and can lead to death if consumed in great quantity.

2) Plastic Grass is a No-no: Decorating baskets with plastic Easter grass is fun but having your pup accidentally swallow it - definitely not fun. Dogs can't digest or absorb plastic. If they eat the plastic grass, it can become entangled in their intestinal tract, which can cause many issues including nausea, loss of appetite and stomach pains and lead to surgery. Paper grass is a much safer alternative.

3) Blooms Are Beautiful and Often Poisonous: We all love spring flowers, but if your Benji goes wild digging up the garden, he can get very sick from eating certain bulbs and flowers. Tulips and daffodil bulbs are poisonous for dogs and can cause heart issues. Keep an eye on your pup when he's in the garden, or better yet, keep him on a leash if he's a digger.

If you think your dog has accidentally consumed something hazardous, don't wait, take him straight to the vet.

For more Easter safety tips and other information about your dog's health, visit the dog resources guide on the Wag! website:  https://wagwalking.com/wellness/easter-hazards-to-watch-for-with-your-dog

About Wag!
Founded in January 2015, Wag! is an on-demand mobile app that gives dog owners more flexibility to manage everyday life without neglecting their dog's needs by giving instant access to experienced and trustworthy Wag! dog walkers in their local community they can book at their convenience. Walks can last 30 or 60 minutes. Walkers are available 24/7. Wag! walks are insured and bonded and every walker has passed a thorough vetting process before being invited to walk dogs on the platform. Wag! is a proud sponsor of Rescue Bank and donates proceeds from every Wag! walk to supply meals to shelter dogs nationwide. Wag! also partners directly with local shelters in Los Angeles, San Franciscoand New York City.