Valentines Day with your Pet

Valentine's day is just around the corner! Don’t have a significant other? That's okay; you have your pet!! While you may not be able to celebrate in the traditional fashion, who cares as long as you’re having fun with your furry friend? 

Have a significant other but want to include your pet? Keep reading as well. One fun thing you can do is make your pet a special meal (just be sure not to make it too rich or with too many fatty foods or it could cause stomach upset) or add something special to their regular food like small amounts of cheese, whipped cream, nut butter (check to make sure that it is free from Xylitol) or raw beef. For dessert you can make them some homemade Pupcakes made with peanut butter and bananas. (Click here for the recipe) Then snuggle up on the couch under the blankets with your dog or cat, with your favorite warm beverage, and turn on your favorite RomCom to enjoy the best night ever. 

A few safety things to consider though (after all, this wouldn’t be a wellness blog without the safety considerations). Be sure to keep all chocolates out of the reach of your pets. While milk chocolate is not as deadly as dark chocolate, it can still cause stomach upset, diarrhea and nasty gas. If you suspect your pet has eaten chocolate, call your vet immediately. You may be wondering what it is about dark chocolate that makes it so dangerous; it's the caffeine and theobromine which are both toxic to dogs. Click the link here to learn more about chocolate toxicity in dogs. If you purchase flowers or receive flowers as a gift, make sure they do not have lilies in the bouquet. Lilies are very toxic to dogs and deadly for cats. Click here for more information on why lilies are toxic. Also, if you choose to imbibe during Valentines Day, do not offer your pet any alcohol --this is also very toxic to your pet! 

One final thing: If you do have a significant other who does not live with you and you are inviting them over for Valentines Day, be sure your pet is comfortable having them around. Your cat may hide when they come over. Let them hide and feel safe in their spot until they are ready to meet your guest. If your dog is nervous, be sure to properly introduce your guest to your dog, let your dog smell them and approach at their pace. Never force an animal to interact with any guest in your home.  

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