From Easter lilies, to candy, to kosher pet food, the Pasadena Humane Society tells you how to keep your pets safe during Easter and Passover. They also don’t recommend giving a baby chick or bunny as a gift.

As the Easter Bunny makes its way from home to home leaving festooned eggs throughout the garden and decadent sweets for children to eat, it’s important for pet owners to exercise caution to avoid any “eggscitement” during this celebratory time of year.

Easter lilies are highly toxic, and, in fact, can be lethal to cats. All members of the Lilium genus produce a chemical – present in all parts of the plant- that can damage a cat’s kidneys. Even water from the vase the lilies stand in is toxic to cats! Easter lilies, stargazer lilies and Asiatic lilies are the most hazardous. (Calla lilies and peace lilies are not a part of the Lilium genus; therefore, they’re harmless to cats.)

Candy with Xylitol, an artificial sweetener, as well as all forms of chocolate can be toxic to cats and dogs, too.

If you believe your pet has ingested any of these, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

For Passover, simply substitute your pet’s regular pet food for Kosher foods. Make sure the food doesn’t contain any chametz, which is any food product, or byproduct, made out of the five major grains – wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt.

As cute as baby chicks and bunnies are during this time of year, we don’t recommend giving them as gifts. If your child wants a chick or a bunny, start them out with a plush animal toy; they’re just as cute and don’t require all the time, attention and care as real baby animals.

Wishing you all a safe & happy holiday from the Management & Staff of C.H. Edwards,Inc.