Valentine's Day Safety Tips for Your Pet

Whilst your pet cat or dog might not know that it's Valentine's Day, that does not necessarily mean that they cannot or will not love it just the same as you do! The key is for your pet to enjoy the special day safely. Here are some tips to ensure that that happens:

Keep Their Paws off Chocolate

While you and your friends or relatives can certainly enjoy some savory chocolates on Valentine's Day, you should never, ever feed any to your pets! This could cause a variety of unwanted symptoms, including:

* Ultra-fast heartbeats

* Tremors

* Hyperactivity

* Liver damage

* Seizures

So even if your pet cat, dog, or bird seems to have a craving for chocolate, never feed it even a morsel of the savory stuff. In fact, eating just four ounces of chocolate could be fatal for cats or dogs weighing ten pounds! The reason is that chocolate contains two different varieties of stimulants: theobromine and caffeine. An alternative is to feed your pet "chocolate drops" that manufacturers make specifically for pets.

Keep Seasonal Plants Out-of-Reach

Although certain seasonal flowers and plants can be inviting, it's also important to remember that some can be poisonous to birds, cats, and dogs. Certain plants are poisonous to cats, others are poisonous to dogs, and still others are poisonous to both cats and dogs. During Valentine's Day, you should know exactly which plants and flowers would make your pet sick. You can do that by getting a complete list from your pet's veterinarian.

While certain plants may look and smell appealing to humans, remember that they could be toxic to pets. And since cats and dogs are curious by nature, it's crucial that you keep the plants far enough from the animals that they can't nibble on them. In particular, keep roses away from your pet on Valentine's Day. Biting or stepping on the thorns could cause your pet cat or dog to be injured. If your pets are going to be near roses, make sure that you remove all the thorns first!

Animals and Alcohol

You should also keep alcohol far from animals. Just a small amount of alcohol can cause a wide variety of symptoms among cats and dogs, including vomiting, tremors, and comas. So if you're going to enjoy some wine or champagne don't allow Fluffy and Fido to lap up some!

Be Careful of Candles

Whilst candlelit dinners are extremely romantic and enjoyed by every person, some pets can be rather curious of the bright flames and warmth emitted by the candles. Under no circumstances should you leave your pets unattended in a room in which a candle has been left to burn.

Remember the old adage "Curiosity killed the cat"? Well, it could be a case of 'curiosity burned the cat' if you do not take precautions with candles on Valentine's Day. Cats, especially kittens, can quickly jump up on your dining table to investigate the flickering candles and may accidentally knock them over. Inquisitive dogs can burn their noses whilst trying to sniff at scented candles.

Show Love Through Alternatives

Just because your pet can't eat chocolate on Valentine's Day, doesn't mean they can't enjoy the day as much as do. As an alternative, you could buy some pet-safe snacks or toys that are shaped like hearts. Even if your pet cat or dog doesn't know that it's a holiday, they'll know that you have a heart for them.

Other ideas include providing them with a pet spa treatment, or simply spending some quality time playing with your pet or cuddling with them. What's important is that you show your pet that you love him or her.

Both you and your pet can enjoy a safe and loving Valentine's Day, by following these basic safety guidelines. Have a heart by keeping your pet safe on this special day!

Photo Credit: Nieve44/La Luz