How to pick a dog-safe bouquet this Valentine’s Day
There’s no better way to brighten someone’s day and say “I love you” than with a beautiful bouquet. But sometimes our dogs are so attracted to the pretty flowers and foliage that they can’t help but steal a nibble, which can lead to some serious trouble if the plant is toxic.
Although it’s tempting to simply put the vase in an out-of-reach place, falling petals or leaves still give our pets a chance to munch. So, the best way to protect your pet from toxic trouble is to ensure that all bouquets that enter your home are pet-safe.
You can do this by checking your arrangements and plucking out dangerous blossoms. Some common toxic bouquet beauties that should get the boot include:
Lily of the valley deserves an extra special mention, since it can cause serious heart damage to dogs. In fact, eating just a small amount can lead to a dangerous drop in their heart rate, an irregular heartbeat and even death.
If you are in charge of choosing the bouquet, simply stick to these beautiful dog-safe blossoms:
Don’t see a particular flower in either of these lists? Check out a comprehensive lineup of plants on the ASPCA’s Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants List the Pet Poison Helpline Poison List.
*Live Chat with a licensed veterinary professional is free for VCA clients through the myVCA mobile app, available at Apple's App Store and Google Play.
