Valentine’s Day is a holiday known for lovers or expressions of love. While a lot of the things we enjoy on Valentine’s Day are potentially harmless to humans, the same items can be hazardous and even fatal to a pet’s health.
Avoid giving your pet the following on Valentine’s Day or any other day
Chocolate is extremely toxic to pets because it contains theobromine, which can cause seizures, heart attacks and internal bleeding.
Bite-Sized Hard Candy poses a major choking hazard for pets. Hard candy becomes slippery with saliva, causing your pet to choke if it slips into the trachea.
High sugar candy such as candy corn will help your pet’s gut bacteria to thrive, causing a spooky mess of gas and diarrhea.
Sugar-free candy often contains xylitol, which is perfectly harmless for humans, but terrible for pets. Xylitol causes a severe drop in sugar only minutes after ingestion, causing lethargy and seizures. If your pet survives the initial symptoms, xylitol can lead to potentially fatal liver failure.
Bubble Gum can be dangerous even if it doesn’t contain xylitol because it can cause moderate to severe bowel obstruction.
Raisins are a healthy alternative to candy for humans, but not so much for pets. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure. Some pets develop idiosyncratic reactions at any dose, which means you should call the vet even if your pet had just one.
Flowers are a great way to show your love to your significant other, but to pets most flowers and plants can be dangerous. For example, while roses might not be toxic to dogs or cats, the thorns from the stems can hurt your pets’ tender paw pads. In addition, while a flower or plant can appeal to your pet’s sense of sight and smell it can become a fatal attraction if your dog or cat eats one. Azaleas, rhododendrons, tulips, daffodils, sago palms, lilies, foxglove, and philodendron are only a few that can cause serious health problems. If you do receive flowers or plants on Valentine’s Day, place them out of your pet’s reach.
Champagne and other alcoholic beverages – while a little nightcap might help humans get in the mood for romance, a small amount of any alcohol can create big problems for pets. Vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing are just some of the things a dog or cat can experience by ingesting even the smallest amount of liquor. Therefore, clean up any spills as soon as possible, seal any unopened bottles, and empty any glasses.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your pets by giving them the following healthy treats.
CET Chews beef rawhide strips with a dual enzyme formula to prevent the buildup of plaque and bacteria and activate a naturally occurring oral defense mechanism. CET Chews are a great tasting and effective way to help keep your dog’s breath fresh and teeth clean.
Blue Buffalo Blue Mini Bars are bite-size biscuits that are oven-baked for a crunchy and delicious treat that includes wholesome and rich ingredients like Blueberry, Yogurt, Carrots, Oatmeal, Flaxseed and Barley.
NaturVet Hip Bones – The Original Cherry Dog Treats help support healthy hip and joint function in a tasty treat your dogs will love! Treats are sized just right for medium and large breed dogs. Original Cherry Dog Treats are made of natural ingredients.
Feline Greenies Dental Treats is scientifically formulated and clinically proven to mechanically reduce tartar buildup that can cause bad breath. As a treat between meals, Feline Greenies work like a little toothbrush to scrub your cat’s teeth.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Cat Treats are a healthy, all-natural snack for any kitty. Your cat will love these tempting meaty morsels packed with intense flavor. Real meat is the first ingredient, which makes these cat treats incredibly delicious!
Royal Canin Urinary Feline Treats are easy-to-administer treats that help support urinary health in cats. In addition they promote a urinary environment which makes it unfavorable to the development of both struvite and calcium oxalate crystals.
To sum it up, Yes! You can include your pets in celebrating Valentine’s Day, but make sure you avoid giving them food or drinks that while harmless to humans can be very harmful to pets. Foods to avoid are chocolates, candy, gum, and raisins. Also make sure your pet does not eat flowers or plants. Plus it should go without saying, but do not let your pet consume any alcohol. If you want your dog or cat to enjoy the Valentine’s Day, give them some healthy treats.
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