Keeping Your Pet Safe on Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! This lover’s holiday certainly has its fair share of motifs and trappings. Hearts, candies, and romantic cards are already popping up in stores, and many people are making plans for a perfect romantic night. However, this can be a very dangerous holiday for Fido and Fluffy! A New Orleans, LA vet discusses keeping your animal companion safe below.

Keep The Bouquet Out Of Range

Bouquets are a Valentine’s Day staple. However, many of those pretty flowers are toxic to pets. The list of unsafe plants includes things like azaleas, tulips, daffodils, and lilies. There are also many plants, like roses, that aren’t toxic but are still unsafe because of thorns or, in some cases, seeds. Play it safe, and keep your flowers in a spot your furry friend can’t reach.

Hide Those Sweets

Chocolate is often at the top of the list of unsafe treats for pets, and with good reason. It can be fatal in such small amounts as one ounce per pound of body weight! Plus, many of those sweets contain other substances that aren’t safe for pets, such as nuts, raisins, sugar, and xylitol. Hard candies pose an additional threat, because they and their wrappers can be choking hazards.

Be Careful With Fires

A candlelit dinner may be the perfect romantic night, but it could end up with your plans going up in smoke … literally. Keep candles in protected spots, so your pet can’t bump into them or reach the flame. You’ll also need to be careful with potpourri burners and fire pits.

Don’t Share Your Drinks

It doesn’t matter whether you like wine, champagne, spirits, or beer: the same rules apply. Keep drinks out of paws’ reach. Even small amounts of alcohol can make your furry buddy very, very sick!

Use Caution With Cards

Cards aren’t the most dangerous thing in your home. However, the ones that make sounds or light up do contain small batteries. This definitely puts them on the list of unsafe items!

Stash The Stuffies

Many dogs go bonkers for stuffed animals. Just be careful: plushies with small parts like buttons or plastic eyes are choking hazards. The stuffing and noisemakers are also unsafe.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Please contact us, your New Orleans, LA animal hospital, with any questions or concerns about your pet’s health or care.