With Valentine's Day approaching, there's a good chance there are items in your home that are dangerous to your pet.
The American Animal Hospital Association is warning pet owners about the risks that popular Valentine's Day gifts like flowers and chocolates pose to pets, especially dogs. The organization says the number of calls to its pet poisoning hotline increases around Valentine's Day each year.
According to the AAHA, chocolate and cocoa contain theobromine, which can be dangerous to dogs and cats. Darker and bitterer chocolates tend to contain more of this chemical.
Pet owners should also be especially careful with chocolate-dipped items such as raisins, espresso beans, and macadamia nuts.
The group also warned against lilies, which are often used in Valentine's Day bouquets. Although lilies are generally not toxic to dogs, the petals, leaves, and pollen contain toxins that can cause acute kidney failure in cats. The group says the dangers posed by lilies vary by species, with some simply causing stomach upset.
AAHA said potentially dangerous lilies include stargazer lilies, tiger lilies, other Asian lilies and some species of daylily.
While the dangers of chocolate and flowers are widely known among pet owners, AAHA says there are other household risks that are often forgotten. Items such as essential oils, massage oils, and scented candles can be dangerous to dogs.
“Depending on the type of essential oil, in concentrated form it can cause ulcers and burns in the mouth and esophagus,” veterinarian Renee Schmidt told AAHA publication Neustat.
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Another potential danger comes from home-prepared meals. Items such as garlic and onions can pose a danger to pets. This is especially true of garlic and onion powders, which are more concentrated than raw products.
“Both (garlic and onions) can cause hemolytic anemia, which can cause the destruction of red blood cells,” Schmidt said.
AAHA also warned that Viagra is toxic to dogs and cats. The group says people using the drug should keep track of the pills to make sure their pets don't swallow them.
“It can cause significant changes in blood pressure and heart rate, as well as heart rhythm problems,” Schmidt says.
Valentine's Day is a busy time for pet poison hotlines, but the busiest time of year is around Christmas, according to AAHA.
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