ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC)
experts field tens of thousands of calls each year involving animal companions
who’ve had potentially hazardous contact with insecticides, weed killers and
pet-toxic plants.
"Keeping animals safe from accidental poisonings should not end once
you've stepped outside," says Dana Farbman, APCC pet poison prevention
expert. "Protecting your pet from potential hazards in your yard is just
as critical."
While gardens and yards are lovely for relaxing, they can also prove dangerous
for our animal companions.
Our experts recommend you watch out for
the following:
Poisonous Plants
When designing and planting your green space, it's a good idea to keep in
mind that many popular outdoor plants—including sago palm, rhododendron and
azalea—are toxic to cats and dogs.
Sago palm and other members of the Cycad family as well as
mushrooms can cause liver failure, while rhododendron, azalea, lily of the
valley, oleander, rosebay, foxglove and kalanchoe all affect the heart. Please
visit our full list—and pics!—of toxic and
non-toxic plants for your garden.
Fertilizer
Just like you, plants need food. But pet parents, take care—the
fertilizer that keeps our plants healthy and green can wreak
havoc on the digestive tracts of our furry friends. Ingesting large amounts of
fertilizer can give your pet a good case of stomach upset and may result in
life-threatening gastrointestinal obstruction. Be sure to follow instructions
carefully and observe the appropriate waiting period before letting your pet
run wild outside.
Cocoa Mulch
Many gardeners use cocoa bean shells—a by-product of chocolate
production—in landscaping. Popular for its attractive odor and color,
cocoa mulch also attracts dogs with its sweet smell, and like
chocolate, it can pose problems for our canine companions. Depending on the
amount involved, ingestion of cocoa mulch can cause a range of clinical signs,
from vomiting, diarrhea and muscle tremors to elevated heart rate,
hyperactivity and even seizures. Consider using a
less-toxic alternative,
such as shredded pine, cedar or hemlock bark, but always supervise curious
canines in yards where mulch is spread.
Insecticides
Like fertilizer, herbicides, insecticide baits, sprays and granules are
often necessary to keep our gardens healthy, but their ingredients aren't meant
for four-legged consumption. The most dangerous forms of pesticides include
snail bait with metaldehyde, fly bait with methomyl, systemic insecticides with
the ingredients disyston or disulfoton, mole or gopher bait with zinc phosphide
and most forms of rat poisons. Always store pesticides in inaccessible
areas—and read the manufacturer's label carefully for proper usage and
storage.
Compost
You're doing the right thing for your garden and Mother Earth—you're
composting! Food and garden waste make excellent additions to garden soil, but
depending on what you're tossing in the compost bin, they can also pose
problems for our pets. Coffee, moldy food and certain types of fruit and
vegetables are toxic to dogs and cats, so read up on
people foods to avoid feeding your pet.
Fleas and Ticks
Since fleas and ticks lurk in tall brush and grasses, it's important to
keep those lawns mowed and trim.
Fleas can cause excessive scratching, hair loss, scabs,
hot spots and tapeworms as well as anemia from blood loss in both cats and
dogs.
Ticks can cause similar effects and lead to a variety
of complications from tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain
spotted fever and Babesia.
Garden Tools
Unattended garden tools may seem like no big deal, but rakes, tillers, hoes
and trowels can be hazardous to pets and cause trauma to paws, noses or other
parts of a curious pet's body. Rusty, sharp tools caked in dirt may also pose a
risk for tetanus if they puncture skin. While cats don't appear to be as
susceptible as dogs to tetanus, care should be taken by storing all unused
tools in a safe area, not haphazardly strewn on the ground.
Allergy-Causing Flora
Ah-choo! Like their sneezy human counterparts, pets have allergies to foods,
dust and even plants. Allergic reactions in
dogs and
cats can even cause life-threatening anaphylactic
shock if the reaction is severe.
If you do suspect your pet has an
allergy, please don't give him any medication that isn't prescribed by a
veterinarian. It's also smart to
keep your pet out of other people's yards,
especially if you're unsure of what kinds of plants or flowers lurk there.
Keeping your pet off the lawn of others will make for healthy pets and happy
neighbors.
Originally published by the ASPCA.
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