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Pet Safety Tips for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is coming soon and while there is much to love about this day of love, there are some dangers for pets to consider. We have some pet safety tips for Valentine’s Day for pet owners.

Chocolate, Sugar-Free Candy and Pets

Chocolate is a Valentine’s Day staple. Whether you have a whole box of chocolates or a special chocolate dessert, keep these away from your pets. Chocolate can cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, seizures, and heart failure, and can be fatal. Desserts made with cocoa powder are also dangerous because cocoa is one of the most concentrated forms of chocolate. It doesn’t take much of these types of chocolate to cause death.

Take special care to keep anything made with xylitol (this is common in”sugar-free” foods) away from your pets. Xylitol is extremely toxic to both dogs and cats. Even a small amount of xylitol can be fatal. Another name for xylitol is birch sugar, so watch for this ingredient as well. If your pet ingests anything with xylitol in it, bring them to the emergency veterinarian right away. Time is of the essence in these instances.

 

a vase of lilies and roses are toxic to petsDangerous Flowers and Plants

While flowers are popular on Valentine’s Day be sure not to send your sweetheart anything that can harm their pet. Some of the types of flora that can cause issues include roses with thorns. Roses themselves are non-toxic, however, if a curious cat gets a hold of a thorny rose, they could injure themselves or if ingested, it can be a danger.

Lilies are extremely toxic to cats and cat owners should immediately discard any lillies into an outside trash bin. If you’re giving flowers to your sweetheart, be sure to specify no lilies in the bouquet or arrangement.

 

Candles and Gift Wrapping

Candles can set a romantic mood, but an unwatched flame might harm pets if they get too close or curious. To avoid accidents, opt for battery-operated, flameless candles—particularly if your pet tends to explore or snuggle up to warmth.

Creating gift wrap paper and boxes often involves chlorine bleach and harmful dyes for vibrant patterns. However, it’s not just the paper that poses a risk to pets. Even items like tape, ribbons, bows, and scissors can be ingested by a dog or cat when left unsupervised, potentially causing intestinal blockages or ruptures.

For more helpful tips for the holidays, we recommend this guide from the ASPCA:

EPIC is Here if You Need Us

We hope these pet safety tips for Valentine’s Day will help you avoid the need for emergency services. However, if your pet is injured or sick please call us at (951) 695-5044 for our wait times and provide our staff with a complete explanation of the emergency and your pet’s condition. You can also review our list of what to do in an emergency.