Everyone deserves some extra affection on Valentine’s Day—including our furry friends. However, dogs don’t quite respond to the holiday’s traditional gifts in the same way that humans do. The pet care professionals at Mililani Town Center Pet Clinic have served the Mililani, HI, community for nearly 30 years, and they want pet owners to know just how crucial it is to keep your pet safe on this special holiday.

What can you do to ensure your pet stays safe on Valentine’s Day? Take some helpful cues from the skilled veterinarians at Mililani Town Center Pet Clinic:

• Avoid Chocolate: Save the heart-shaped box of chocolates for your beau. The sweet treat can be toxic to dogs and cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms, including tremors, seizures, and accelerated heartbeats. In some cases, death may occur. Even the smallest amount of chocolate could prove problematic, so it’s important to visit your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your dog has ingested it.
• Avoid Flowers: Another common Valentine’s Day surprise, flowers are a beautiful gift—but some can be poisonous to dogs. The slightly bitter taste is usually enough to deter a pet from eating them, but even a small amount of a petal can spell danger. Lilies, tulips, and daisies are all especially troublesome to pets, so keep flowers and bouquets out of your pet’s reach.
• Avoid Candles: A candle casts a warm glow over the room on date night, but it also creates a problem for a dog who paws at a flame or attempts to ingest some leaking wax. Both issues can cause issues for pets, so it’s important to keep candles away if your dog is roaming the house.

By taking some extra precautions, you can prevent an unfortunate event and enjoy a special, memorable Valentine’s Day with your dog instead. If it’s time for your pet to see a veterinarian, pay a visit to the animal doctors at Mililani Town Center Pet Clinic. Visit the pet vet’s website, or give them a call at (808) 625-6744.