Valentine's Day is today (February 14), and for many of us, that means enjoying chocolate! Most people are aware that chocolate is toxic to pets, but may not know why chocolate is toxic or how much is "too much."
Chocolate isn't the only worry though. Wrappers (plastic and foil), string and ribbon around candy packages, raisins, the artificial sweetener xylitol, macadamia nuts and seasonal bouquets and planters containing flowers such as lilies and daffodils all pose a risk.
Some human foods are OK in small quantities, but if unsure, it is always better to pass on it. I have seen some very convincing (e.g. yummy looking) dog cookies such as the one pictured at right, but always make sure they are safe for pets and do not contain any of the above ingredients.
Check out this list of foods and plants that are toxic to pets:
- Chocolate
- String Foreign Bodies (linear foreign bodies)
- Raisins and Grapes
- Yeast Dough
- Artificial Sweetener Xylitol
- Macadamia Nuts
- Lilies and related toxic flowers
Photo: An Airedale Valentine / Lulu Hoeller on Flickr
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