Don’t Kill Your Dog With Love! 6 Valentine’s Day Items Unsuitable for Dogs
We know dogs make the best valentines ever! But before you celebrate Valentine’s Day with your furry friends and shower them with cuddles and treats, read up on a few things that can be dangerous to their health.
1. Roses and Lilies
Roses are red
Lilies are white
But dogs will stay safe
If they don’t take a bite!
Stepping on, biting, or swallowing the sharp thorns on roses could cause injury, so if you do receive some from a special someone, keep them out of reach of your animal companions.
Lilies are beautiful but toxic. When ingested by dogs, they can result in gastrointestinal upset, but to cats they are deadly, so keep them away from kitties.
2. Chocolate
Chocolate is tasty, but to our furry friends, it’s dangerous, especially dark and baking chocolate. It and coffee both contain theobromine and caffeine, which are toxic to dogs (the smaller the dog, the greater the chance of an overdose and even death). Unfortunately, like us, dogs think chocolate tastes great, so be sure to store yours in a safe place, far from Fido.
3. Xylitol
You probably know that candy is bad for dogs because of all the sugar in it. But you might not realize that a common sweetener called xylitol, which can lead to liver failure in dogs, is also found in many types of candy.
4. Alcoholic Beverages
Just as in humans, alcohol can affect dogs’ livers and brains. Even a small amount can cause serious damage and lead to respiratory distress, tremors, coma, or death, so try not to spill any—your dog might lap it up!
5. Ribbons
If you receive a gift, be sure to trash or stash the ribbons out of reach as soon as you’ve finished opening it. If a dog ingests a ribbon, it can cause serious intestinal damage, including lacerations. Ribbons are also a choking hazard.
6. Candles
Candles are very romantic, but not for your animal companions. Keep them well out of reach, and blow them out when you leave the room. Curious animals might harm themselves or start a fire by knocking the candles over.
If your dog exhibits any signs of illness after accidentally ingesting any quantity of the above items, contact your veterinarian right away.
For Valentine’s Day, here are some fun alternative ideas for your pups:
- Whip up some homemade carrot, date, and oatmeal dog treats.
- Or make your dog this delicious homemade sweet-potato peanut-butter delight.
- Why not buy your dog (or cat) a water fountain to give them fresh water all day long?
- And treat your furry friend to a soft chew toy, or make a DIY one.
The best Valentine’s Day gift you can give dogs is time and love. Spend extra time with them this Sunday by taking them on an extra-long walk, play games with them, and show them lots of affection. Your furry best friend will be delighted to be your Valentine.
