Keeping Your Pets Safe This Valentine’s Day

As the winter season marches on, February arrives often-bringing chocolate Valentine treats into your home. However, chocolaty delicacies for animal lovers equal danger for your pets.

According to the Healthy Dogs section of WebMD, chocolate will not only make your pet sick, it can also be fatal. There is no such thing as a safe amount. In all cases, the most dangerous varieties to pets are dark chocolate, baking chocolate, and cocoa powder. Milk chocolate and white chocolate can also be dangerous, but are less potent.

Dogs will scoff down most anything and not stop till it’s gone. Most cats on the other hand, are not likely to eat chocolate unless coaxed. However, it is toxic to felines too.

It is imperative to contact your vet if you have any suspicions that your dog or cat might have eaten any chocolate. Be prepared to give specific information like your pet’s size, and the type and amount ingested. The most common symptoms for dogs include diarrhea and vomiting, but they might not show up for 6-12 hours. Abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures are common symptoms for cats.

So if chocolates are your favorite Valentine’s Day splurge, consider a few extra precautions. You know your pets best. Keep your Valentine’s Day delights in inaccessible places, and instead, provide safe, healthy treats for the four-legged residents of your home.

We recommend…

For your furry doggy Valentines, Zuke’s Mini Naturals Dog Treats are available in six varieties. As a training tool or an occasional indulgence, these treats range from approximately 2.8 to 3.5 calories each. Choose from our most popular, peanut butter, to salmon, chicken, wild rabbit, roasted pork and duck varieties. All tasty bite size tidbits are loaded with protein and anti-oxidants. In addition, all treats are corn, wheat, and soy free.

For your fluffy or sleek kitty Valentines, treat them to Zuke’s Natural Purrz Moist Cat Treats, available in either savory salmon or tender chicken. Both varieties are less than 3 calories each. These grain-free, healthy bite size tidbits are full of meat and omega 3 rich fish. As a bonus, both flavors contain cranberries to help keep your cat’s urinary tract healthy. Cats will love the tasty flavor and the chewy "Z" shape.

Zuke’s dog and cat treats are proudly made in the United States with ingredients from the United States.