Tips to keep your pets 'hoppy' this Easter

Easter is not only a fantastic time to visit family and eat all the chocolate, but to prioritise our furry friends’ health and wellbeing.

There are simple steps you can take to make your Easter stress-free when it comes to your pet, especially around travel.

When you go on holiday with your pet, there are a few key things to remember.

Including:

• Never leave your pet tied up in the backyard, on the back of a ute or unattended in a hot car.
• Pack all their essentials – water, food, medication, bedding, toys, crates, leads, collars, and harnesses 
• Ensure your pet’s microchip details are up to date and they are wearing identification.
• When your pet is travelling in the car or on the back of your ute, ensure they are appropriately secured.

Do you know the law? New legislation details:

When transporting a dog on the tray of a vehicle or on a trailer, they must be secured appropriately to prevent them from falling out of the vehicle.

We know that it is tempting to include our canine companions and other pets in life-long easter traditions, including the consumption of delicious chocolate.

However, just 50g of chocolate can kill a dog due to its high acidity. Chocolate's key ingredient, Theobromine, is extremely hazardous to our four-legged friends and can cause a range of problems.

Chocolate is not the only food around Easter that is dangerous for your pet. Hot cross buns, onions, cooked bones, fatty barbecue leftovers and corn cobs, can all cause major implications for your pet’s health.

So, this Easter, stray on the side of caution and ensure to think about the type of treats we are feeding our pets. More tips can be found here.

If you are travelling to see family interstate or overseas and cannot facilitate your pet on the trip, there are ways to ensure their safety while you are enjoying some rest and relaxation.

Register your pet with our Home Alone Service

This keeps our RSPCA team informed if your pet is reported missing, found, or needs help while you are away.

Get a pet sitter at your place

If you do not have family or friends able or willing to care for your pet, consider booking a pet setting service while you are on holiday. You can search for a network of trusted pet sitters with PetCloud.

Pet sitters can offer pet care services for your companion in your home, or at theirs. A portion of proceeds from PetCloud services also go towards RSPCA Queensland, to help animals in need.

The advantages of pet sitting at your home include your pet being happier and experiencing less stress in their home environment, all the while having your pet’s normal diet and exercise routine continued. It is also a great option if your pets do not like to travel.

Ensure your pet is microchipped

Should your pet become lost over Easter, a microchip is a guaranteed way to access your contact details at the local council, vet, or animal welfare rescue agency. Microchipping your pet has been mandatory in Queensland since July 1, 2009. So, check your pet’s microchip details are up to date!

We see successful reunion stories on a regular basis all thanks to responsible pet owners doing their bit and getting their pet microchipped. Take Jonty the cat for example, who was recently reunited with his grateful owners after going missing 12 years ago. Jonty the injured cat was picked up by a member of the public and taken to a nearby vet. When he came into RSPCA care for his wounds to be treated, his microchip was checked and his owners promptly contacted.