ASPCA Guide to Pet-Safe Gardening

[JoeZodiac]

This spring, deep-country and urban gardeners alike are pruning the greenery with pets by their sides. But beware, pet parents—elements in your lush, flowery nooks can be dangerous to animal companions. Says Dana Farbman, pet poison prevention expert for the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), “Keeping animals safe from accidental poisonings should not end once you’ve stepped outside—protecting your pet from potential hazards in the yard is just as critical.”

Last year, the APCC fielded 60,000 calls by pet parents whose animal companions had come into contact with fertilizers, insecticides, weed killers and pet-toxic plants. Read the complete ASPCA Gardener’s Guide to learn how to keep your pet safe.

Here's a sneak peek at some of the tips offered by our ASPCA experts:

Keep pet-poisonous plants off your property. Sago palm as well as mushrooms can cause liver failure, while rhododendron, azalea, lily of the valley, oleander, rosebay, foxglove and kalanchoe can all harm your pet's heart.

Fertilizers are dangerous. They often contain heavy metals such as iron that, if ingested in large enough amounts, can cause severe gastric upset and possibly gastrointestinal obstruction.

Don’t use cocoa mulch! The sweet smell of this popular mulch attracts dogs, and like chocolate, ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea and elevated heart rates in our canine friends.

If you suspect your pet has eaten something toxic from your garden or yard, please contact your veterinarian or the APCC 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.

http://www.aspca.org/news/national/05-15-09.html#4