The Vet Nurse's Blog
May 2010 - Gardens and Pets
As the weather starts to get warmer we tend to spend more time out in our gardens enjoying what is normally brief spring and summer months. Most pet owners are aware that gardens can be potentially dangerous places for cats and dogs and precautions need to be taken to avoid accidents.
In the spring we may lay down special fertiliser to help our plants grow and as we are outside in our gardens more there is more chance of our pets coming into contact with them. Make sure that the fertiliser you choose is pet friendly as some of them are toxic to cats and dogs. Another common problem is slugs and snails and you may be tempted to put down some slug bait to stop them getting to your plants. Unfortunately most slug bait is poisonous to cats and dogs as it contains a substance called Metaldehyde. Slug bait normally looks like a small kibble and is sweet tasting to attract the slugs, but also attract your pets, and even the smallest amount can cause problems. Where possible try to use slug bait, which is pet friendly, ask at your local garden centre, as they should be able to recommend a specific product.
Some of our favourite springtime plants and flowers such as daffodils and crocuses have parts which are toxic for pets if eaten. The list of plants is quite long and it is impossible to list them all so if you have pets and are looking to get a new plant for your garden it is best to ask at the garden centre as they may know if the plant is poisonous to pets or check online before you buy the plant. It is not always the leaves or flowers that are poisonous, it may be the bulbs or other parts of the plant and in some, such as Azalea, every part of the plant is toxic. It has been advertised recently in the news and other articles about lilies being poisonous to cats, it is only certain lilies so be careful when buying them for your home or garden.
Think about where your pet is when you are mowing the lawn, particularly if you have a new puppy or kitten who is likely to be inquisitive about everything. They may enjoy chasing the lawnmower around the garden but you should discourage this behaviour from the start and lessen the risk of a very serious accident occurring.
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