How Valentine's Day Can Be Ruff For Pets And What You Can Do About It

Thinking of sending a bouquet of flowers this Valentine’s Day to a loved one or sweet heart? Does he/she have a pet?  Or, have you received chocolates or bouquets of flowers, or both, and you own a pet? If so, here are some common risks Valentine’s Day poses to your pet(s).

Valentine’s Day is a popularized day in which one is to express love to someone else—but this should also be directed to your pet, whether dog or cat or bird. According to a Canadian survey taken in 2011, of the overall percentage of Canadian households, 38% own cats and 35% own dogs. And a striking 59% of Canadians say the bond they share with their dog/cat is as strong or stronger than the bonds they share with their family and friends. 

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) cases of poison control involving pets increase around Valentine’s Day; for owners often leave gifts and candies in their homes unaware that certain foods are toxic to animals. 

The following are things to watch for when either having received a Valentine’s Day gift, or are planning to send one to someone you love who owns a pet.

1. Asiatic Lilies: These are popular flowers commonly included in bouquets, but are toxic to pets. What specifically causes the toxicity is obscure, but the toxicity itself involves damage to the renal tubular epithelium (composing the substance of the kidney and secreting, collecting, and conducting urine), which can cause renal failure. Exposure to any part of a lily, including the petals, stem, leaves, and even the water, can lead to varying levels of toxicity, particularly in cats. Keep bouquets out of reach of your cats; and if you suspect exposure by your cat, call your local veterinarian right away. If you are sending a bouquet of flowers to a cat-owner, then make sure that you send one with another, non-toxic, substitute for the lilies.

2. Roses: Pretty obvious risk here with the ingestion of thorns, not to mention all the chemicals, dyes, and sprays they may be treated with. This can be particularly harmful to pet birds. 

3. Chocolate: Dogs have a sense of smell 100,000 times greater than humans, hence can identify gift-wrapped sweets right down to the minutest detail. Chocolate, particularly, contains theobrimine, a chemical similar to caffeine that dogs do not tolerate well. Dogs that inadvertently get into a box of chocolates can experience clinical signs of stomach upset, agitation, high heart rates, and tremors, if left untreated. 

4. Miscellany: Other quite obvious dangers are balloons/gift wrappings  (choking/suffocation), alcohol (vomiting), and candles (burns and fire hazards).

Keep your pets or the pets of your Valentine safe. Keep your treats and goodies out of reach of your beloved pets. If you are sending gifts to your Valentine and he or she owns a pet, there’s nothing that can kill the romance as much as insensitivity to the health needs of his or her beloved pet.