Spring is here!
Michelle March 18th, 2010
Spent the morning walking dogs and I do believe Spring is here. One thing about my job, is I get to go out into the sunshine and actually enjoy the sights and smells. Lots of flowers.
Spring also means many people will be getting out in their yards and doing general cleanup and fertilizing those flowers and shrubs. If you have pets there are also things to watch out for when preparing your flower beds or vegetable beds for that matter.
I perused the internet and found some tips you can follow to make sure that not only does your yard stay nice and healthy but your pets do to.
- Before you start planting those seedlings, first check to see if they are toxic to cats or dogs. For example, Lilies, Tulips, Daffodils and Morning Glory’s are quite lethal to pets.
- Before reaching for the snail and slug bait,stop and read the label. The active ingredient is Metaldehyde, which is another toxic substance to dog and cats. (One alternate and safer way is using beer in a sturdy can with lip, slugs and snails are attracted to the yeast in the beer)
- Motor-driven tools such as rototillers, mowers and weed eaters warrant the best safety practices around the home and garden. Protect your pets by either keeping the pets locked safely away or being aware of their movements at all times. Store sharp objects in a shed or garage.
- Sort garden chemicals and discard all of the outdated or unused chemicals according to label instructions. Check the lock on your chemical storage area to assure that pets have no access.Better yet, try pet-friendly organic alternatives for repelling pests.
- Commercial mulch sometimes contains cocoa bean shells, which many dogs can’t seem to resist. The chemicals and caffeine that are naturally present in cocoa can be very dangerous to pets if ingested. Make sure that any mulch you buy for the garden is free of cocoa bean shells.
- Be aware of the types of trees and shrubs surrounding your house that generate a lot of pollen. Just like humans, pets suffer allergies too. If your pet displays symptoms like skin irritation, hair loss, ear infections, excessive sneezing or runny nose, make an appointment to see your veterinarian.
- Controlling vermin becomes an issue again in the spring. Be aware that the same properties of common rat and mouse poisons that make them irresistible to pests will also attract your pet. If consumed, these can be fatal to your animal.
- This is also the time for pesky bugs such as fleas and heartworm to rear their ugly heads.They grow and spread quickly once they find a host. The preventative treatments that you may have discontinued in the winter should start early in the spring to keep your pet’s coat, and your home, free of pests.
- Spring cleaning is an annual tradition in many households, but make sure the cleaning products don’t hurt your animals. If the label states “keep pets and children away from area until dry” follow those instructions carefully, and store all chemicals out of reach of children and pets.
- Iron – This is commonly added to fertilizers, and can result in iron toxicity (from ingestion of elemental iron). This is different from “total” iron ingestion, and can be confusing to differentiate. When in doubt, have a medical professional at Pet Poison Helpline assist you with finding out if the amount ingested was toxic or not. Large ingestions can result in vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and potential cardiac and liver effects.
Here is a website you can check out for more information on what plants are toxic to your animals:http://oregonvma.org/care-health/poisonous-plants
Here is the animal pet poison hotline: 1-800-213-6680