Cherubs, chocolates, and red roses all come to mind during Valentine’s Day. It’s the perfect time to shower your loved ones with affection. And the last thing you want is for one of your loved ones to be get hurt or sick, including our beloved furbabies! However, there are a lot of hidden dangers during Valentine’s Day that could spell disaster instead of love. Be sure to keep your dog away from these dangers to ensure a fun-filled day!
Chocolate One of the most well known dangers of Valentine’s Day is chocolate. Chocolate is toxic to your dog and can not only make them very ill, it can be fatal if they ingest too much of it. If your dog has gotten into your sweets stash, call the vet immediately. You can also use this chocolate toxicity meter to find out more about the seriousness of your dog’s situation.
Toxic Flowers Did you know that there are several flowers and plants that are toxic to cats? Bouquets with lilies, such as tiger lilies, Easter lilies, Asiatic lilies, Oriental lilies and more are toxic to cats. They don’t pose a threat to dogs, but for our feline friends, they are very dangerous. Before you buy your Valentine flowers, make sure they are safe for all pets in the home. Also, make sure any ribbons or bows are out of reach of cats because they have a hard time resisting them. They can get tied up in them, or worse–eat them–which can wreak havoc on their insides.
Dangerous Foods There are more food dangers than just chocolate. Things like grapes, raisins, and macadamia nuts are extremely toxic to dogs. Also, sugar free candies containing the artificial sweetener, xylitol, is especially hazardous. All of these can cause maladies from gastrointestinal issues to kidney or liver failure and even death.
Ways to Share the Love
Make the most of your Valentine’s Day celebrations by including your furry loved ones too! After all, your pet is a constant companion that gives you all their love every day.
- Buy them a special toy, new leash, or bed
- Make a donation to your local animal shelter in your pet’s name
- Take them to lunch at a dog friendly patio
- Get them a grooming appointment
- Visit the dog park (coming soon to Fitchburg, MA!)
- Bake both dog friendly and delicious human heart shaped treats together
- Volunteer at a local shelter
So, this February 14th, don’t forget to keep your pets safe from the hidden dangers like chocolate and certain flowers. It’s always good to shower affection on your four legged loved ones too, as long as it is done safely. They will certainly appreciate being a part of the celebrations and the extra attention on Valentine’s Day. And of course, we hope that you and all of your loved ones have a day full of love and laughter!