Valentine’s Day is almost here! Such a lovely occasion — all hearts and flowers. It warms the heart in mid-winter. This holiday opportunity for charming decorations, yummy sweets, and other treats is fun for all, but a number of Valentine’s Day holiday items are hazardous to your pets. Below are some things to keep in mind for keeping your pet safe and healthy on and after Valentine’s Day this February.
Valentine’s Day Pet Safety
Pet poisoning from toxic food for dogs and other sources, choking, and suffocation are just some of the hazards around the average home during the upcoming holiday and every day. Check with your veterinarian for a more comprehensive view of potential health and safety issues for dogs around the house. Here are some of the most common concerns that arise around the Valentine’s Day holiday:
Chocolate
Chocolate is toxic to dogs and can be fatal. Darker chocolates present the highest risk. Keep baker’s chocolate, cocoa, and dark chocolate candies well out of reach of your dogs. Chocolate products also often contain caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline, which are both toxic to dogs and can be fatal. Symptoms of a reaction to chocolate can include panting, diarrhea, vomiting. If you suspect that your dog has ingested chocolate, contact your veterinarian.
Sugar
Dogs should not consume significant amounts of sugar. This includes foods and snacks that contain sugar, such as Valentine’s Day candy, cake frosting, cookies, ice cream, etc. Watch out for corn syrup, a different form of sugar found in a large percentage of processed foods. If your dog frequently consumes too much, that habit can result in obesity, dental problems, obesity, and potentially diabetes.
Xylitol
Confections such as jelly beans, chewing gum, and other candies often contain Xylitol. It is a plant extract used as a sugar substitute in many types of candy. Xylitol is highly toxic to dogs, and even small amounts can be fatal. Ingesting this substance can cause excessive insulin release, kidney failure, or death. If xylitol poisoning is identified early, it may be possible for emergency treatment of your dog to provide a better outcome.
Alcohol
As in humans, alcohol intoxication in dogs can cause poor motor control, stomach acid imbalance, labored breathing, and other significant symptoms. If your dog ingests alcohol in a dangerous amount, it can even cause a coma or death for a dog. It may seem harmless to give a dog beer, but in addition to containing alcohol, beer has hops, which are also dangerous for dogs. Ingesting hops can cause a dog to experience panting, fever, rapid heart rate, seizures, and even death.
Gift Wrap and Ribbons
Gift wrapping and ribbons can make Valentine’s Day gift-giving feel more special. But, after the wraps and bows are thrown aside, your pets may be attracted to chewing them. Ingesting gift wrapping materials can result in choking, intestinal blockage, or other potentially deadly complications.
So, be careful to keep gift bags, grocery bags, snack bags for chips, etc., out of your dog’s reach. Dogs cannot resist sticking their heads into bags that have a scent of food in them, which can cause a pet to suffocate in just a few minutes.
Floral Bouquets
Beautiful flower arrangements are so lovely it can be hard to imagine that they could be dangerous in some way. However, various flower species are toxic to dogs. Tulips, lilies, azaleas, and other popular flowers for use in gift bouquets are extremely hazardous to dogs. Symptoms of poisoning from flower ingestion can include vomiting, potential kidney failure, and death.
If your Valentine gives you flowers in an arrangement containing any of these plant species or others that are toxic to canines, be sure to keep them in a safe location. Display your flowers where you can enjoy having them and where you do not have to be concerned about them being a danger to your pet.
Happy Valentine’s Day From Pet Door Products
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5% of our proceeds go to the Humane Society of Utah (HSU)
and 10% of proceeds coming through any HSU’s sources.
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