Your Pets Daily - Valentine's Day

Beware of the Bouquet - Vets issue toxic flower warning to pet owners ahead of Valentine’s Day

Your Pets Daily Editor — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000

With bouquets of flowers one of the top presents for loved ones on Valentine's Day, the UK's leading emergency vets has issued a warning to pet owners - after they saw an 60% rise in flower related cases last February*.

As the month to celebrate love, the British Florist Association has estimated that 250 million stems of flowers are sold at Valentines globally.

To help pets avoid an emergency this Valentines, Vets Now is advising pet owners to take extra care, sharing the list of popular plants that are extremely poisonous and can prove fatal for cats and dogs.

Vets Now head of telehealth, Dave Leicester, who is responsible for a team of experienced vets at Vets Now's Video Vets Now service and supports emergency clinicians at Vets Now's 60+ clinics and hospitals throughout the UK said: -

"The jump in emergency visits for flower-related cases at Vets Now clinics all over the UK is a big concern, given the highly toxic properties of many popular flowers being bought for seasonal occasions like Valentine's Day."

"We'd urge pet owners to be vigilant and extra cautious during times when you are likely to have more flowers on display at home than usual. Pets can be notoriously curious, so be sure to keep vases of bouquets and potted indoor plants well out of reach if you do have cats and dogs in your home."

Dave added: - "We recommend reading up on the list of plants and flowers that are poisonous to pets. If you're planning to buy a bouquet for a loved one who is a pet owner, we'd advise opting for bouquets that only contain pet-safe flowers."

Popular Valentine's Day plants and flowers that are poisonous for pets

Lilies - Certain types of lilies – those from the Lilium or Hemerocallis species – are very dangerous for cats. They contain highly toxic substances and ingestion of any part of the plant, or even just grooming the pollen from their coat, or drinking water from the vase, can be potentially fatal, causing acute kidney failure. While lilies don't pose quite as severe a risk to dogs, they are still toxic. The calla lily, peace lily, lily of the valley and palm lily, are all deemed dangerous to dogs.
Tulips - As one of the most popular flowers for Valentine's Day bouquets, Tulips are in the Lily family, and are poisonous to both cats and dogs. The bulbs are the most toxic part but any part of the plant can be harmful to your cat, so all tulips should be kept well away.
Daffodils - These springtime flowers can appear early in the season if the winter has been mild. The yellow flowers contain a poisonous alkaloid that triggers vomiting while crystals in the bulbs are severely toxic and can cause serious conditions such as cardiac arrhythmias or respiratory depression. These signs can be seen between 15 minutes and one day following ingestion.
Chrysanthemums and Daisies - Although only mildly toxic, chrysanthemums contain pyrethrins, which are used in dog flea and tick medications, and are particularly poisonous to cats. If your cat has eaten chrysanthemums look out for vomiting, diarrhoea and lack of appetite and seek advice from your vet.
Hyacinths - Belonging to the liliaceae family, the highest concentration of poison in hyacinths is in the bulbs, making them harmful to both cats and dogs. Ingesting a hyacinth bulb can lead to drooling, vomiting, or diarrhoea, depending on the number consumed.

Pet-friendly plants and flowers

Roses – nontoxic to cats and dogs, the top flower of choice for Valentine's Day is a great option for homes with pets. Just make sure to trim any thorns from stems to help avoid scratches to little paws that may find their way to the bouquet.
Plus – Lavender; Sunflowers; Orchids
Even for these non-toxic plants though, too much of a good thing can still cause stomach upset. If you are worried about something your dog has eaten, or if you're observing diarrhoea, vomiting or other troubling clinical signs, call your daytime vet, Video Vets Now or your local emergency clinic.

Vets Now is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week, with clinics across the UK.

If you're unsure whether your pet needs veterinary treatment, you can book an online video consultation with Video Vets Now. If you know for certain your pet has eaten something toxic, however, do not delay, call your daytime vet or your local emergency clinic. For more helpful pet owner advice and information, or to find your nearest clinic, visit www.vets-now.com.

Pet-friendly flowers for a Valentine's Day bouquet, and ones to avoid

Katie Court — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 12:00:00 +0000

A worldwide symbol of love and affection, floral bouquets are unsurprisingly a staple of Valentine's Day. There are so many flowers to choose from when crafting your Valentine's bouquet, giving you plenty of options for creating the perfect one for your partner's taste. But as many pet-owners know, some of the most popular additions to bouquets can be toxic for our four-legged friends, so they should be avoided altogether for their safety.

The good news is that there are still plenty of beautiful, romantic dog- and cat-friendly flowers to choose from. To help you create the perfect pet-safe floral arrangement, the pet food brand Webbox are here to share some of their favourite additions to a pet-friendly bouquet, as well as flowers which should be avoided completely.

The best pet-friendly flowers for a Valentine's bouquet

It's always important to put any plants and flowers out of reach of your pets to stop them from chewing on things they shouldn't be. But just doing this isn't always enough for crafty pets. This is especially the case for cat-owners as felines seem to be able to get into the smallest and most awkward of nooks with ease, and are often curious to look at any new additions to their home. To completely eliminate the risk of your dog or cat getting ill from flowers, you can make a bouquet for your special someone using the pet-friendly options below.

Roses
You can breathe a big sigh of relief, as this Valentine's Day classic is safe to have in the home around both cats and dogs. Every variety of rose is considered to be pet-safe, but if possible you may want to opt for thornless roses to reduce the risk of pets scratching themselves. You have plenty of choice with this flower when crafting your bouquet, from classic red roses for romance, to lighter shades like white, pink, and peach, which are the perfect colours for a beautiful spring floral arrangement.

Statice
While the main stars of the bouquet like roses are important, the flowers which fill the empty space are crucial for bringing life to the arrangement, and statice is perfect for doing just that. Statice is safe for dogs and cats, and comes in a variety of shades, including deep blues and purples, as well as lighter choices like white, pinks, and yellows. So no matter the main flower you choose, statice is sure to make a great accompaniment.

Freesias
This delicate cat- and dog- friendly flower is considered to be a symbol of friendship, making it the perfect addition to a floral bouquet for not just your partner, but any one of your loved ones. These funnel-shaped flowers come in a great selection of shades, including orange, white, yellow, pink, and red. If you're planning on crafting a bouquet with a distinctive scent, the red and pink varieties tend to have the strongest smells out of the bunch.

Snapdragon
If you're looking to incorporate a distinctive and unique pet-safe flower in your arrangement, a snapdragon is the perfect choice. Sometimes used as garnish for humans, this flower is completely non-toxic for both cats and dogs. Coming in shades of pink, yellow, orange, and red, adding this flower to your bouquet is the perfect way to introduce a pop of colour.

China asters
These flowers, which resemble large daisies and come in a variety of colours, are safe to have in the home with cats and dogs. Symbolizing love, patience, and faith, they are the perfect addition to include in a bouquet for your partner. This flower is also the September birth flower, making it a particularly thoughtful addition if you're giving your arrangement to someone born in this month.

Which flowers should you avoid?

Fortunately, you won't find yourself short of pet-friendly options when creating a thoughtful Valentine's Day bouquet. However, there are some popular cut flower staples which are toxic for our pets. The following flowers should be avoided when putting together your pet-safe floral arrangement:

Lilies: These flowers are toxic for both dogs and cats, but are particularly dangerous for felines as consumption can lead to kidney failure.
Tulips: Also in the lily family, tulips are poisonous for cats and dogs, including the flowers, leaves, and bulbs.
Daffodils: While it's popular to have in the home at this time of year, every part of a daffodil flower is toxic to dogs and cats.
Carnations: These flowers are toxic for cats, and even more so for dogs. Consumption can cause skin irritation and stomach upset.
Hyacinths: Another member of the lily family which is poisonous for both cats and dogs, which can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and tremors if ingested.
Sweet peas: This is a particularly dangerous flower for pets, which can cause tremors and seizures if consumed.
Azaleas: All parts of the azalea plant are poisonous for dogs and cats, and can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, and an abnormal heart rate when ingested by our pets.
Mistletoe: Although this may be the perfect romantic flower, the leaves and berries of this flower are toxic for our pets.

While some choose to take the risk of including the above and keeping them out of reach of pets, for the safety of your four-legged friend and your own peace of mind, we'd recommend sticking to the beautiful pet-friendly flowers above.

"If you're planning on treating your pet-owner partner (or yourself) to a floral arrangement this Valentine's Day, you can give them peace of mind by making sure the bouquet is safe for their four-legged friend. While ingesting any type of plant or flower may cause mild stomach upset in cats and dogs, the collection of pet-friendly flowers in this list are considered to be safe even when consumed. Of course, to enjoy the bouquet as long as possible it's still a good idea to keep it well out of the way of curious paws!

"To impress your partner even further, go the extra mile and get a small gift for their pet too. Something as simple as a packet of nutritious cat or dog treats or a small toy is a great way to show you care, and may even distract them from becoming too interested in the new bouquet."

— Lisa Melvin, Head of Marketing at Webbox

About the brand

Since 1984, Webbox have been making pet food that's designed to taste good and do good too. Specialising in pet food, treats, and toys, Webbox have made your pets' health their number one priority, and all their food is specially formulated to give your furry friends all of their essential vitamins and minerals. Better yet, their collection of food and treats are so tasty, your pets will keep coming back for more.

To find out more, visit https://www.webbox.co.uk/

Treating your cat this Valentine's Day: Homemade treats for your feline companion

Tom Stone — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Valentine's Day is all about celebrating the ones we love the most in life, whether they're our partners, our friends, or even our pets. Cats make loyal and loving companions, so if you're looking for a way to show your favourite feline just how much you care, this Valentine's Day is the perfect time to treat them to something special. And there's no better way to show you care than by putting the effort into making a gift with your own two hands.

Looking for some inspiration? The feline experts Catit are here to share three of the best treats you can make for your cat at home, as well as the purrfect shop-bought accompaniments to these homemade gifts.

Salmon heart-shaped biscuits

Giving your cat a tasty treat in the shape of the universal symbol for love is the perfect way to celebrate Valentine's Day with them. As well as containing one of the most popular fishes with felines, these salmon biscuits are incredibly easy to make. Plus, you can even freeze excess dough for up to three months for future batches!

You only need three ingredients for these tasty feline treats: 140g of undrained canned salmon, 120g of flour (wholewheat or regular), and half a beaten egg. Then simply do the following to whip up these treats:

Use a food processor to finely chop the salmon.
Add the chopped salmon to a food mixer with half a beaten egg and the flour, stirring until it turns into dough. You can add a little extra water if it becomes too dry, and extra flour if it becomes too wet.
Roll the dough out until it is about a quarter of an inch thick, and use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to make your biscuits (to keep them small, use a cookie cutter no more than an inch big). This should make around 60 small biscuits, which will be plenty for your pet.
Place the sheets on a tray lined with baking paper and cook at 175°C for twenty minutes.
Leave the treats to stand and cool before giving your cat a taste.

You can store them in an airtight container for up to two weeks, which should give your pet plenty of time to enjoy them. If you want to share the love, you can even gift your loved one's cats with a small bag of biscuits too!

Tuna cake

Sweet treats like chocolates and desserts are a staple of Valentine's Day for humans. Cats tend to not have a sweet tooth, but this doesn't mean they can't join you while enjoying a dessert of their own with this tuna cake. While this may not sound appetising to us humans, rest assured that your cat is bound to love it!

To make this "dessert" for your cat, follow the steps below:

Boil and thoroughly mash around 50g of sweet potato and leave it to cool. Keep it plain and avoid using any seasoning to prevent your pet from developing an upset stomach.
Mix the sweet potato well with half a tin of drained tuna and a teaspoon of plain flour.
Spoon the mixture into a round cookie-cutter and allow it to set in the fridge for about quarter of an hour before giving it to your cat.

Plain boiled sweet potato is completely safe for a cat to eat, but only in small portions at a time. For this reason, it's best to split up this dessert in three portions to be enjoyed by your cat over the course of three days. Or if you'd rather, simply amend the quantities to make a smaller portion without leftovers.

A fancy meal

Just like us humans enjoy fine dining on this romantic day, your cat will no doubt appreciate getting treated to a fancy homemade meal. Of course, there's no need to provide your pet with a five course Michelin Star level experience — simply giving them something a little different will be enough to impress them!

This can be a great way to treat your pet, and you can even give them the same meal as you! Try to give them a source of protein and some different types of vegetable in the dish. Cats love chicken, so boiled chicken breast with the skin removed could be a good option for your pet. But there are plenty of other types of meat and fish you could try, such as turkey, salmon, and sardines, so just choose the one your cat loves the most. You'll find plenty of choice for veggies too, as it's safe for cats to eat boiled and chopped carrots, peas, broccoli, green beans, pumpkin and more.

The perfect accompaniments for your homemade treats

A homemade edible treat is sure to go down well with your cat this Valentine's Day. But if you have a busy schedule and you don't have the time, or you want to gift them with a little something extra, there are plenty of great shop-bought presents to choose for your pet, such as:

A heart shaped cat food bowl, to serve them their Valentine's Day dinner in style.
A bow tie collar to help them look the part while enjoying their special meal.
A new toy for playing with on the day — just make sure to let their food digest before getting them too hyperactive!
Some catnip to keep them entertained.

You may also be interested in gifting them with a more practical gift, for both your sake and theirs. Something like a water fountain can make sure your pet never goes thirsty while you're out of the house, plus it can be fun for them to investigate when they first come across it!

"Valentine's Day isn't just about showing the love to our significant others anymore, as many of us now use it as an opportunity to show all our loved ones how much we care. These homemade recipes require just a few ingredients and are simple to make, so even those pushed for time can turn their hand at making them if they wish.

"Of course, one of the best gifts you can give your cat this Valentine's Day is simply spending time with them. So, make sure to carve out some time in the day to show your feline companion some love and appreciation. Whether it's by having a fancy meal with them, playing with their new (and old) toys together, or simply snuggling up on the sofa, it's sure to show your pet just how much you care."

Paul Trott, UK Marketing Manager at Catit

Your Pets Daily - Valentine's Day

Beware of the Bouquet - Vets issue toxic flower warning to pet owners ahead of Valentine’s Day

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Pet-friendly flowers for a Valentine's Day bouquet, and ones to avoid

The best pet-friendly flowers for a Valentine's bouquet

Which flowers should you avoid?

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Treating your cat this Valentine's Day: Homemade treats for your feline companion

Salmon heart-shaped biscuits

Tuna cake

A fancy meal

The perfect accompaniments for your homemade treats

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Tags