Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. We’re already starting to see lots of chocolates, flowers, and other trappings popping up in stores. This cute lovers’ holiday can be pretty dangerous for pets, though, so you’ll want to take a few steps to keep your animal companion safe. A Burlington, ON vet offers some advice on keeping your pet safe below.

Play It Safe

Many popular Valentine’s Day trappings are actually very dangerous for pets. Chocolate, for instance, is toxic to both dogs and cats. Flowers are another concern. While roses, the most popular choice for Valentine’s Day, aren’t toxic, they’re still dangerous because of the thorns. Lilies, another popular choice, are extremely poisonous to cats. (Note: the ASPCA has a full list of safe and unsafe plants listed online here.) Having a candlelit dinner? Keep the candles in high, secure spots, well out of paw’s reach. It’s also best to keep those cards and teddy bears in spots your dog or cat can’t get to.

Include Your Pet

Valentine’s Day is a romantic holiday, but it’s also a good time to celebrate the love we share with our families, friends, and, of course, our pets. Bring your furry buddy a new toy, or perhaps a special treat. This is also a cute time for couples and families to take pictures that include their pets. Fluffy and Fido have also been party to several proposals!

Movie

Dinner and a movie is still the classic go-to date agenda. Relaxing with your furry best friend, some yummy snacks, and a good movie is a great way to spend a frigid winter night. Pets make ‘pawesome’ cuddle buddies! If you’re looking for a fun food and movie combo, you can’t go wrong with a spaghetti dinner and a screening of Lady and the Tramp.

Spay/Neuter

Fido and Fluffy also often go looking for love at this time of year. If your furry buddy hasn’t been fixed yet, we recommend getting this done right away. This not only helps prevent unwanted litters, it also helps reduce or eliminate many bad behaviors, such as spraying. (It also helps keep cats from singing love songs in the middle of the night, which is a benefit in and of itself.) Do you have questions or concerns about your pet’s health or care? Contact us, your Burlington, ON animal clinic, today!