Today is St. Valentine’s Day. It is a day that is attended by display of love, affection, celebration, wining and dining. You may want to show your pet some love this season by giving it some of these treats. However, for your pets to join the fun and stay safe, you need to bear in mind that some foods which are edible for humans can pose great hazards to pets.
Some foods may only cause mild digestive upsets, whereas others can cause severe illness and even death. Here are examples of food items that you should avoid feeding your pets this season and beyond.
They include: chocolates, bones of chicken, turkey and fish, fat trimmings, remnants and leftovers, raw meat and fish, large amounts of liver, sugary foods and drinks, grape, yeast dough, tobacco, alcohol, coffee, tea, caffeinated beverages such as energy drinks and more.
You can show your dog some love this season by giving a ‘meal treat.’ Try out a special recipe for your pet. Ensure that a balanced diet (meal that contains all the essential food nutrients such as protein, carbohydrate, fats, oils, minerals and nutrients in the right proportion) is hygienically prepared. If your pet has a favourite meal, canned meat or dry food brand, please show some love by making it available for it this season.
Another way we can show our pets how much we love them is by ensuring that they are in good health.
This Valentine season, you can show your pet some love by booking an appointment for it with the veterinarian. This will give your veterinarian an opportunity to detect medical challenges early so that they can be nipped in the bud.
Remember the saying, “a stitch in time, saves nine.” If there are no medical challenges, your pet’s veterinarian can administer any outstanding or relevant vaccination. This will help to protect your pet from preventable illnesses.
The veterinarian may also examine your pet for any ectoparasites (parasites that live on the body of an animal) such as ticks, fleas and lice. It is necessary to get rid of these ectoparasites during this season because they do not show any love to your pets, as the direct health implications of their infestation is more than skin deep and can have deleterious consequences.
If your pet is infested with any ectoparasite, you can apply veterinary recommended parasite control products that are safe, extremely effective and easy to use.
In this season, you may also want to ensure that your pet’s house is in good condition. Your pet’s sleeping area should be comfortable and not be shared with piles of washing bowls or storage boxes. It should be well disinfected and be located in a secluded area that is out of way of people who walk through and other annoyances.
The roof should also be properly fixed and soft bedding material can also be provided to ensure that your pet feels warm, loved and special.
You can keep your pet’s smile pearly white this love season by brushing its teeth with a pet-safe toothpaste, and by providing dental toys and treats to help keep their teeth clean, healthy and free of tartar.
Raw-hide dog chew is an example of a good treat that you can provide for your pet. However, please note that when it comes to providing treats for your pets, moderation is an essential requirement for consideration.
If your pet has dietary restrictions, always discuss with your veterinarian before feeding it something new.
Another way to show your pet love in this season is to make out some time to take it for a walk. This will serve as a great treat to your pet, especially if it is an activity that you do not usually engage in. Pets love to go for a walk.
They come back happy, fulfilled and healthier. This is because walking a pet helps to exercise their cardiovascular and respiratory system. It also helps to burn out excess energy and fat.
Pets that go on regular routine walks are usually less destructive and more physically and mentally fit than pets that do not take routine walks.
Pets also want to be loved. In fact, the truth is that they deserve to be loved. These great non judgmental companions can be shown some love this season by gently stroking their fur for a few minutes.
Stroking a pet also gives a soothing effect that is accompanied by a very calming and therapeutic feeling that helps to lessen our blood pressure and reduce heart rate.
A healthy pet is a happy pet; and a happy pet can also help us enjoy fuller and more rewarding life.
I wish you a happy St. Valentine’s Day celebration, and a love-filled weekend.
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