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Diary of a Chi

Tips for a Pet Friendly Valentine's Day

As Valentine’s Day approaches, you may be thinking about giving—or getting—the perfect gift. But did you know that the traditional tokens of affection—roses, chocolates, and other candies—can be harmful for the four-legged loves of your life?

Here are some tips on having a loving and safe Valentine’s Day:

- Please take caution with roses or other blooms containing thorns, which could prove harmful to pets if played with, bitten, stepped on or swallowed. Pet's can develop serious infections from thorn punctures. Also, many varieties of lilies are highly toxic to cats.

- In any form ranging from one-ounce baking squares to hand-dipped truffles, chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both methylxanthines that can cause stimulation of the central nervous system, an increase in heart rate and tremors. Clinical signs—vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, hyperactivity, and increased thirst, urination and heart rate—can be seen with the ingestion of as little as two ounces of baking chocolate by a 10-pound dog.

- Another potential hazard is gum or candy sweetened with the sugar substitute xylitol, which can cause a fairly sudden drop in blood sugar (known as hypoglycemia), resulting in depression, loss of coordination and seizures. If you suspect your dog may have eaten products containing any of these harmful ingredients, please seek veterinary treatment immediately.

- Lastly, it may seem very tempting to give your loved one a new puppy or kitten for Valentine’s Day—they sure are cute and cuddly! But bringing a new companion animal into your home is a big decision. If giving a new pet is #1 on your list, why not adopt from your local shelter or take a trip to the shelter together? You might just make another love match.

Been a While

Well, we were a bit busy over the holidays and have neglected our dogster page. Now that things have slowed down (a bit too much) we will be checking in with our dogster friends more often.

I hope everyone had a great holiday and has a wonderful New Year!

Woof!

Cesar's Greetings

As a fan of Cesar, I want to help spread the word about Cesar's New Holiday Packs! With these gift packs, you save up to $55 on the regular price. There are 5 different gift packs to choose from.

For more information and description of the great items included in each "pack" go to:

http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/products/holidaypacks.p hp

Also check out Cesar and Coco in the Dec/Jan issue of DFW Dog Magazine. You can view it online at dfwdog.com or you can stop by the daycare and pick up a complimentary copy.