Valentines Day and our Pets: Some Safety Suggestions

Sunday, February 14 is Valentine's Day . . . a day of romance and of course an abundance of love is in the air! It is one of my favorite holidays.

And since we adore our wonderful pets and those of us who are incurably romantic will give our beloved furry companions a special valentine present. In fact about three quarters of American pet owners do give holiday presents to their pets, and Valentine's Day is not thought to an exception by avid gift-givers who have pets.

But some of the enticing gifts that we receive can be dangerous when our enchanting little darlings are tempted to try to get their little paws or mouths on these presents. Just as any holiday can be fun and delightful for us, we do need to be extra careful with some of the more typical valentine items that we are given in order to keep our pets safe.

Chocolate: This creamy, delicious treat is the most popular Valentine gifts given that we adore, but it is highly toxic to both cats and dogs. It contains theobromine and caffeine which are stimulants and may even be fatal if ingested by our pets. Chocolate toxicity is one of the most common poisonings which vets encounter. So do keep these items safely stashed away, out of sight.

Shiny jewelry may be very attractive to pets and inviting as a play thing to cats in particular, but small items can easily be swallowed, or chewed on, causing choking or digestive ailments.

Those beautiful flower baskets can be very appealing to pets. But many plants are also toxic and potentially lethal as well. The Humane Society of the United States has an excellent website which lists some of the more common dangerous plants. There are over 700 plants that have already been identified as dangerous to pets. For more information, visit the site at: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/plants_poisonous_to_pets.html

Candlelight dinners are very romantic, but those flickering lights can be very appealing to our pets to play with. Cats in particular can be very drawn to lit candles. So again, caution is warranted. It is far safer to confine your pet during that special dinner hour while candles are glowing.

Of course in gifting our pets, using our creative imagination we can think of many interesting presents for them. From a heart-shaped pink toy, to some highly appealing treats and some extra special doting attention time playing with your pet, you will find that these safe Valentine gifts will be very much appreciated.

For more about safety for pets on Valentine's Day, watch this informative video uploaded to YouTube by Ontario Vet College.

Do you plan to gift your pet with a Valentine present? Leave a comment and share.