Happy Valentine’s Day

If you’ve visited a retail store lately, I’m sure you’ve noticed that Valentine’s Day is very much upon us. And that can be a good thing. After all, Valentine’s Day is a reminder to all of us that we need to treat the love of our lives in a special way.

And by “the love of our lives,” I, of course, mean our pets.

Now, don’t think my joke is without merit. A quick internet search tells me that 43% of pet owners plan to buy Valentine’s Day gifts for their furry friends, as compared to the 42% who plan to purchase gifts for their human significant others!

It turns out that what Edgar Allan Poe wrote in “The Black Cat” some 180 years ago is true (which I’ll paraphrase here):

“I hardly need to explain to those of us who have loved a faithful and intelligent dog how wonderful it is. There is something about the unselfish, unconditional love of an animal that goes beyond the fragile affection we humans can offer.”

Have truer words ever been written/paraphrased? (Okay, I’m joking…well, half joking!)

To those of you who are among the 43% planning on buying Valentine’s Day gifts for Voivode, I say carry on! But might I suggest that keeping her safe on Valentine’s Day might just be the greatest gift for our Greatest Love of All?

And how might we do that?

Well, we’ve dealt with this obvious, first danger before (in the Halloween blog), but, yeah, Voivode still needs to be kept away from candy…chocolate candy in particular.

“Seasoned pet lovers know that all types of chocolate are potentially life-threatening when ingested by pets,” the ASPCA notes on their website (and I concur). “Methylxanthines are caffeine-like stimulants that can be found in chocolate and 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.”

(I would like to add that Voivode’s size matters as well. A smaller doggie consuming a large amount of chocolate is at greater risk than a larger dog consuming a small amount. And the darker the chocolate, the worse it is for your canine companion.)

But wait! There’s more…

“In addition to chocolate,” the ASPCA goes on, “candies and gums that are sweetened with xylitol are unsafe, and even deadly, for pets to consume. It’s important to keep all sweet treats away from pets!”

Those words are every bit as true as Poe’s.

Oh, are you planning to celebrate V-Day with cocktails? Okay, but please keep those out of Voivode’s reach as well. Even a small amount of booze might cause vomiting, diarrhea, problems with the central nervous system, coordination issues, the shakes, shortness of breath, and possibly a coma. Yikes!

Wrapping up V-Day gifts for your pets, your significant other, or both? Keep the ribbon, tape, bows, paper, balloons, and cellophane away from your furry friend. Voivode might think that these colorful items would be great to gnaw on, but any one of them can get easily stuck in her throat or digestive tract, making her vomit or choke.

And I probably don’t have to tell you to be careful with fire. That candlelight can sure help set a romantic atmosphere, but put out the flame when you aren’t around to attend to it. Mitten the Kitten might paw at it. And you know how inquisitive Voivode can be. There’s no need to ruin V-Day by having to rush burned pets to the veterinary hospital..,or to deal with an unexpected, potentially deadly fire.

Aren’t those thoughts romantic?

Well, let’s switch gears. Not everything regarding V-Day is a potential danger to your four-footed best bud. It might actually be a great day to bond with Voivode. How so?

Well, the two of you can get away for a nice, romantic walk together. Check out our Catskill Tails on Trails blogs for some great rail-trail suggestions right here in Sullivan County.

Or maybe Voivode might just like to curl up on the couch with you and enjoy being petted while you watch a movie together…maybe something fun with an animal in it!

Oh, have I mentioned the 43% of us who’ll give our fur buddies gifts? V-Day might be the most opportune time for a new bed. Or a new chew toy. Or some different, healthy treats. You get the idea.

V-Day might also be a good time to teach Voivode some new tricks. If you’re thinking of hiking together, it’s a good idea that she understands—and obeys—basic commands like, “come,” “stop,” and “drop it.”

Remember, your doggie is a bright being who needs to be free of boredom. Anything you do to keep Voivode stimulated is probably a good idea. Playing with her will allow her to burn off excess energy and reduce stress. Plus, the two of you will strengthen your bond for sure.

And remember, if anything untoward accidentally happens—on V-Day or otherwise—the Animal Hospital of Sullivan County is here. Did Voivode get into the chocolate? The booze? The loose wrapping? The candles? Make that call: 845-292-6711. We’re here to make sure that Voivode stays well and happy for many a Valentine’s Day to come.

And isn’t that the best gift you can ever get?