Veterinarian Shares Tips On Keeping Pets Safe This Valentine’s Day

Friday is Valentine’s Day, which means millions of Americans are giving and receiving chocolates, candy and flowers, and thousands of pets will be heading to veterinarians after eating something they shouldn’t.

Veterinarian Ruth MacPete wants pet owners to know how to keep their furry friends safe this Valentine’s Day. She has appeared as a veterinary correspondent on radio and TV shows across the country, including “The Doctors,” Hallmarks “Home & Family,” “The Today Show,” “GMA,” “Fox & Friends” and the Weather Channels show “Americas Morning Headquarters,” and wrote the award-winning children’s book “Lisette the Vet.”

“Every year around this holiday, thousands of pets are hospitalized when they eat something they shouldnt have eaten,” MacPete says.

First and foremost, MacPete advises keeping all chocolate safely out of reach of pets. While many know that chocolate is toxic to dogs, the fact is that most companion animals can become sick from eating chocolate. Cocoa-based products contain a toxic chemical called theobromine, which is easily digested by humans, but not by animals including cats, dogs and rabbits.

The theobromine and caffeine found in chocolate are particularly toxic to dogs, acting as a stimulant and speeding up their heart rate, which could lead to death in dogs with pre-existing heart conditions. Cats who eat chocolate may show symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures.

Pet owners should also keep sugar-free candies and treats away from pets, MacPete says, because the common sugar substitute xylitol is also poisonous to them, especially to dogs and ferrets, according to the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Xylitol, which is found in a range of products from chewing gum to baked goods, can quickly become life-threatening in dogs. Symptoms include vomiting, followed by symptoms of low blood sugar including weakness, staggering, collapse, and seizures.

Cat owners should keep lilies and other toxic flowers out of the house. Lilies are particularly dangerous, because they can cause potentially fatal kidney failure. Other common plants that are toxic to cats include daffodils, tulips, azaleas, chrysanthemum, rhododendron, cyclamen, iris, hyacinth and gladioli.

MacPete recommends giving your pets special Valentine’s Day treats that are safe for them, such as Nylabone Natural Nubz dog treats, which are good for their teeth.

“Show your pets you love them by keeping them safe this Valentines Day,” MacPete says.