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Harlequin Haven
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Valentine's Day Valentine's Day can be as much fun for
pets as it is for humans, but only if dangerous foods and flowers and
other items are kept out of your dog's reach. Each year poison control
experts see a rise in cases around Valentine Day, many involving
chocolate. So please don't leave the candy lying around. Experienced pet owners know the
potentially life-threatening dangers of chocolate, including baker's,
semi-sweet, milk and dark. In darker chocolates,
methylxanthines, caffeine-like stimulants that affect gastrointestinal,
neurologic and cardiac function, can cause vomiting/diarrhea,
hyperactivity, seizures and an abnormally elevated heart rate. The
high-fat content in lighter chocolates can potentially lead to a
life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas. Enjoy your chocolates, but
don't leave chocolate out for your dog or cat to get into. Although many people think it is cute to
give their dog beer, wine, champagne, or other type of liquor DON�T!!!
Because most dogs are smaller than humans and of course are not used to
alcohol a little bit of alcohol can do a lot of harm, causing vomiting,
diarrhea, lack of coordination, central nervous system depression,
tremors, difficulty breathing, metabolic disturbances and even coma.
Potentially fatal respiratory failure can also occur if a large enough
amount is ingested. Always keep anything with
xylitol out of reach of your dog. If ingested, gum, candy and other treats that include
this sweetener can result in a sudden drop in blood sugar known as
hypoglycemia. This can cause your pet to suffer depression, loss of
coordination and seizures. Did you get a wrapped present or are you
wrapping a gift to give? Once the gift is wrapped or opened gather up
wrapping paper, cellophane, tape, ribbons, and bows throw them away or put
away. If eaten, these items can get lodged in your pet's throat or
stomach, causing him to choke, vomit or to get a blockage. Many pet owners are still unaware that
all species of lily are potentially fatal to cats. When sending a floral
arrangement, specify that it contain no lilies if the recipient has a
cat, and when receiving an arrangement, look through and remove any
dangerous flowers. If your pet shows any symptoms such as stomach upset,
vomiting or diarrhea, he may have ingested an offending flower/plant.
Don't let pets near roses or other thorny stemmed flowers. Biting,
stepping on or swallowing their sharp, woody spines can cause serious
infection if a puncture occurs. Although it is romantic to have dinner
by candlelight, always put out the candle when you leave the room. Dogs
and cats can easily cause a fire by knocking over unattended candles. And last but not least, NEVER give a pet as a gift!! Giving a cuddly pet may seem a fitting Valentine's Day gift, however, returning a pet they had not planned on is anything but romantic. Dogs bring with them a lifelong commitment, and choosing a dog for someone else does not always turn out right.
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