Holiday Pet Hazards: Easter is around the corner and brings many dangers for dogs and cats!

• Are lilies toxic to cats or dogs?

  Easter Lilies

• Every part of an Easter Lily is toxic - even the water can cause problems! These beautiful flowers can cause death to cats. Lilies are notorious for causing kidney failure - so if your cat has chewed on any part of these plants - get them straight to Newport Harbor Animal Hospital for intravenous (IV) fluids for a few days to save their kidneys - if you wait too long, it may be too late. Species to watch out for are part of the true lily family: Lilium and Hemerocallis. Any exposure should be taken very seriously and treated aggressively. Lily of the Valley is toxic to BOTH dogs and cats - this one hits the heart instead of the kidneys.

Our Pet Health Mission

Our mission at Newport Harbor Animal Hospital is: "To provide the highest quality veterinary care for our patients and the best service for our clients. Our goal in every case is a healthy pet and a happy client."

My cat/dog ate Easter grass!

Easter Grass

Another component of those great Easter baskets - is the grass filling that helps everything look pretty. This grass looks like a lot of fun, especially to cats! These plastic strings can clog up the stomach and intestines and even act like a saw to the intestines. Make sure to throw this filing away ASAP to save your dog or cat's life.

Is chocolate toxic to my dog or cat?

Chocolate

Easter baskets are great! They also usually have chocolate bunnies and chocolate eggs - you get the idea. If your dog or cat eats chocolate - call your vet right away. Chocolate contains both theobromine and caffeine - in high enough levels, this can cause vomiting, diarrhea, heart arrhythmia, seizures and death. The sooner you get them to Newport Harbor Animal Hospital - the better the outcome may be.