Here’s how to keep your favorite fur-entine safe this Valentine’s Day and find the perfect gift for them.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. If you’re in search of the perfect gift for the love(s) of your life, we’ve got you covered!
There are plenty of fun (and safe) ways to celebrate with your furry friends. In fact, many pet parents do. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) in 2023, 32% of consumers said they’d buy a Valentine’s Day gift for their furry loved ones — up from 27% in 2020.
Gift block be gone, it’s time to put together a fantastic holiday for your best friend. Here’s what you need to know about throwing a Valentine’s Day to remember for your pets.
It’s important to stay safe when you celebrate. For a list of things to avoid, scroll down to the bottom of this article. It’s a quick guide to keep you and your furry friend as safe and as healthy as possible.
Show your fur babies some extra love this Valentine’s Day with one of our favorite gifts below.
One way you can celebrate your pet this holiday is by donating to your local animal shelter in honor of your pet. This is certainly a great way to spread love to the whole pet community!
What pet doesn’t love playing with a new toy or enjoying a yummy treat? Here are our pet owners’ favorite picks for dogs and cats that give mental stimulation and hours of play.
For dogs:
For cats:
🚨Too many treats can lead to GI upset, so it’s best to give them in moderation. Treats generally shouldn’t compose more than 10% of the pet’s daily calories, per our veterinary experts.
Looking for a thoughtful and practical gift for your dog or cat? Opt for a new personalized name tag for their collar! By purchasing a new tag, you can make sure that your contact information is updated and their name is legible. It’s the ideal way to avoid confusion if they ever get out and about.
Chewy has a lot of great options, like this colorful silicone dog or cat tag. However, this can’t really be a placement for a microchip — as tags and collars can be taken off or destroyed over time.
Join over 1.3 million pets in FidoAlert’s network. Helping every lost dog find its way home. FREE enrollment and FREE pet ID tag.
Is your pet’s bed looking worn out? Treat them to a new bed! It’s a surefire way to keep them comfortable and cozy all night long. Here are our favorite chew-proof dog beds for canines of all sizes.
For cats, this plush round bed will make them want to curl up and snooze. The best part? They’re all machine washable! (Additionally, you could always book a specialty pet massage for your furry friend!)
These raised food and water bowls for cats are cute and simple. They’re made from pet-safe materials and are whisker-friendly! For your dog, this adjustable, elevated dog bowl set will make mealtime a breeze — and it’s elegant for you, the pet parent, to look at.
🚨It’s best to shop for ceramic or stainless steel options, as plastic can lead to allergic reactions or acne in some pets.
Get into the festive mood and dress your pal up in a festive collar or bandana. This one is easy! Find a Valentine’s Day-inspired collar and throw it on. You can also opt for a cute heart-printed sweater. Have a pet that’s not too fond of clothing? Consider buying a holiday-themed one to make them feel extra spoiled.
🚨Collars should generally be “breakaway style” for your pet’s health. You don’t want them getting tangled up and hurt if they get caught on something.
Sometimes the best gift we can give is some extra time and attention. Take your dog out for a long walk on their favorite trail or treat them to a game of fetch. For cats, play with their favorite toy inside and give them lots of cuddles.
Chocolate seems to be the most popular gift on Valentine’s Day. While we don’t want to exclude our furry valentines from celebrating with us, chocolate is NOT safe for them. The good news is there’s a pet-safe alternative to chocolate — it’s called carob.
Carob is a natural plant that has a flavor like chocolate, though it’s sweeter than cocoa. It’s full of nutrients (including calcium, magnesium, and B vitamins) and even provides protein and fiber. It doesn’t contain caffeine, theobromine, phenylethylamine, or other toxins to pets that are found in chocolate. People who have sensitivities or allergies to chocolate also eat carob as an alternative.
Pick up some carob-flavored dog biscuits for your pup to enjoy. But, make sure your dog doesn’t eat a large number of carob treats as this can lead to an upset stomach.
It’s not drinking alone if your pet is home, right? Better yet, get your fur friends a drink of their own this Valentine’s Day. For our feline friends, the Apollo Peak Cat Wine is a 100% organic liquid catnip designed to entice even the classiest of cats into playtime. For our dog moms and dog dads out there, give the dog wine a try.
While pups may not react to this dog wine as cats do to theirs (dogs don’t exactly have an equivalent to catnip), most pups will exhibit a relaxed state of behavior. And who can beat the incredibly named bottles? Our personal favorites are the ZinfinTAIL and PURRsecco.
We enjoy home-baked goods, so why wouldn’t our pets? We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite pet-safe recipes online for you to try this Valentine’s Day.
Time to get your bake on!
With so much love in the air, it’s also really important to be mindful of safety. A lot of the commercialized Valentine’s items can be very toxic for animals. Here are some common holiday-themed items to keep out of reach from your pets.
Pet parents should watch for any signs of poisoning in their fur babies. These can include:
🚨 If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially toxic or poisonous substance, call ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Pets communicate often, telling us their moods, their state of health, and their experiences. You may be surprised to learn this, but many pets can even say ‘I love you,’ often choosing to do so in unique ways. Here are a few signs to watch for that could indicate that your pet feels loved and cared for.
Dogs and cats have some similarities in this method of saying ‘I love you,’ often using head butts, tail posture, and flicking to convey their excitement at seeing you. Both dogs and cats might also lick to show affection, although this is more commonly seen in dogs than in cats.
Feel like you’re being watched? You probably are! Both dogs and cats stay engaged with you when they feel close and happy, often training (or “gazing”) their eyes on you to see what your next move will be. You can determine if this behavior is done out of love or concern depending on their other body language.
For example: Hunched back? They’re probably feeling threatened. Coupled with head butts and purring or happy yips? They’re probably feeling pretty loved.
Dogs and cats are pretty different in this regard. Cats are fans of passive action that shows affection and are often caught kneading on the soft spots of their owners to show closeness. They might even gift you something for Valentine’s Day — although it’s more likely to be a mouse or a bird than a Louis Vuitton bag.
Dogs might be more outright, licking you excitedly and inviting you to play. They might do this by leaving a ball at your feet or directing you to their favorite playtime toys.
Valentine’s Day is one of the most loving holidays of the year. We’re so excited that you want to extend those good vibes to your pet, and are here to help you do so safely. Focus on creating experiences and memories using pet-safe items — whether that looks like a fresh new scarf for your pet pal or a tasty, pet-safe treat. We bet there will be a few kisses or headbutts in your future!
Also, remember to steer clear of fake dyes, flavors, xylitol, chocolate, or alcohol, as these can be quite harmful to your pet. Be sure to keep an eye out for any signs of unintentional ingestion or poisoning for extra peace of mind.
Our pets are very in tune with our emotions — so even the little things (like speaking kindly to your pet (praising them with an uplifting tone), and petting them) can make a world of difference. Your pet will feel the love, and will likely give you some sweet kisses in return!
There are many different ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your pet. Many owners choose to invest in a new toy or pet-safe treat for them, or they may choose to dress them up in cut ethemed outfits. There’s no wrong way to celebrate, so long as your pet is kept safe.
Pets can absolutely be your Valentine! Many pet parents celebrate, putting their pets at the forefront. They’re our fur babies, after all!
Our pets know we love them by our actions. Chances are, if you’re on this blog post, you care enough about your pet to honor them with the holiday — which is so sweet and kind! Looking to give a little extra love? You can always pause for a second and go give them some cuddles, praising them for being so awesome.
Many pet parents kiss their pets on the head. While this is relatively safe, our veterinary experts recommend steering clear of the mouth area — especially if your pet is on a raw food diet. This is an easy way to transmit pathogens to you, which can make you sick.
