Vets warn against giving chicks at Easter

MADISON, Wis., April 2 (UPI) -- Veterinarians suggest parents stick to chocolate bunnies, ducks and chicks for Easter, rather than live ones, to avoid bringing animal diseases into the house.

The Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association warned the animals, however cute they are, can carry bacteria, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.

"Each spring, children become infected with Salmonella after receiving a baby chick or duckling for Easter," the association said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control warns recent research has suggested rabbits can carry E. coli bacteria. The infection to the digestive tract can cause kidney failure and death in children.

The veterinary association said using rabbits, ducks and chicks as casual Easter gifts is unfair to the animals. They advised parents to think carefully about whether they or their children will be willing and able to care for them when they grow.

"Many Easter pets are abandoned, taken to a shelter or released into the wild because the novelty feeling fades or they require more care than anticipated," the association said.