Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, when couples across the UK will celebrate their love through thoughtful gestures and meaningful gifts, including chocolate, which saw sales soar by 512% during this romantic holiday last year.
Unfortunately for pet owners, the day can be full of hidden dangers, and Dr Sarah Page-Jones, Head Veterinary Surgeon at Pet Drugs Online, explains the risks:
“Valentine’s Day often brings an abundance of chocolates and sweets, either for gifting to a partner or indulging in a little treat. However, while these may be treats for humans, they can be harmful to pets and should always be kept out of their reach.
“Chocolate is poisonous to pets, containing a toxic chemical called theobromine. Even a small amount can be fatal, so it’s essential to ensure your pet has no access to any treats containing chocolate. Sweets pose their own dangers, containing sweeteners and chemicals that may be harmful, alongside the risk of choking on an unfamiliar food.
“It isn’t just chocolate and sweets couples should be conscious of; some of the most popular Valentine’s Day flowers can be toxic to pets if ingested. Lilies are extremely dangerous to cats, causing rapid acute kidney failure within 36-72 hours if untreated. Tulips and daffodils are also toxic to both cats and dogs. Even the water in a vase can be harmful if it once contained toxic flowers. It’s important to keep these flowers out of reach of pets to avoid any potential dangers – removing them from the house altogether for assured safety.”
