Tips for a Pet-Friendly Garden

As the snow begins to melt and the ground begins to thaw, it will once again be time to start working on our yards and gardens. While gardens are a beautiful addition to your outdoor space, they can also harbor dangerous toxins for your pet. Here are some plants and garden essentials to be cautious of when working this spring.

Plants

• Baby’s breath. This flower can wreak havoc on your dog or cat's digestion, causing gastrointestinal upset, vomiting and diarrhea.
• Daffodil.  While Daffodils are a common staple for any springtime garden, you might want to think twice if you have a curious pet! If ingested, daffodils can cause severe gastrointestinal upset, lethargy, sedation, lack of appetite, convulsions, shivering, abnormally low blood pressure, kidney damage, muscular tremors and irregular heartbeats. To stay safe, yellow orchids look very similar and are non-toxic!
• Lily. So many lily varieties are extremely poisonous to cats. If you’re in doubt, don’t plant any of them! Ingesting even the tiniest bit can cause kidney failure! Oddly, lilies are non-toxic to dogs. If you have a cat and a love for lillies, resurrection lilies are safe to plant.
• Morning glory.  Distinguished by opening its bloom in the morning and closing it again at night, this flower is like LSD for your pets. Ingestion can cause delusions, stupor, or hallucinations. You may also see an increase in aggression, inability to stand or lethargy with excessive panting. Petunias stay open all day and present no harm to dogs or cats.
• Oleander. This pretty bush should come with a warning sign to ward away both humans and animals. Every part, from flower to root, is highly toxic and should be avoided. Ingestion can be fatal. Plant Ixora instead.

Mulch

• Cocoa mulch.  The theobromine (found in chocolate) and caffeine contained in this mulch can cause adverse reactions in dogs and cats. While many cocoa mulch manufacturers claim to have changed their processing methods to remove these two compounds, the safest route is to avoid it entirely.
• Pine, cedar and hemlock mulch. Choking or allergic reactions are a possibility with these natural wood mulches. Some mulch pieces, if ingested, can also puncture a dog or cat's stomach lining. If using these mulches, make sure your pet is always supervised!
• Rubber mulch. Similar to the wood mulches, the rubber variety could present a choking hazard!  Many of these types claim to be chemical free, but they are far from being natural.

Fertilizer

According to Pet Poison Helpline, many fertilizers can cause drooling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal posture due to abdominal pain, difficulty breathing and “muddy” colored gums.

Fertilizer manufacturers that produce “pet-safe” fertilizer base their safety claims on the absorption speed of the chemicals into your lawn. When heavy rainstorms come, however, some trace amounts of the chemicals may surface. 

Regardless of what you use, keep your pet away from any fertilizer until it has been completely worked into your grass so that none of it can be eaten by your dog or cat.

With a little knowledge, caution, and effort, your garden can be both beautiful, blossoming and pet-safe. For a full list of harmful plants and toxins, visit the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants or Pet Poison Helpline website.

Source: Pet 360 & Pet Poison Helpline

Top 10 Cat Toxins

While there are well-known substances such as chocolate that are toxic to dogs, feline poisons are sometimes less-known.  Cats are curious and independent, so it is important to know what is toxic in your household in order to keep your cat safe and healthy. Pet Age and The Pet Poison Helpline created this list of items, presented in order of frequency, that caused the most emergency calls to the Helpline in 2013.

1) Lillies: Plants in the Lillum species, such as Easter, Tiger, Asiatic lilies, cause kidney failure in cats.  All cat owners must be aware of these highly toxic plants!

2) Household cleaners:  Most general-purpose cleaners (e.g., Windex, Formula 409) are fairly safe, but concentrated products like toilet bowl or drain cleaners can cause chemical burns. Other symptoms can include profuse drooling, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and even organ damage. After cleaning your home, make sure all excess liquid or residue is wiped up or eliminated as soon as possible.

3) Flea and tick-spot-on products for dogs:  Those that are pyrethroid or pyrethrins based (e.g. Zodiac, K9 Advantix, Sergeant's, etc.) cause tremors and seizures that can be deadly to cats. Even more “natural” or “holistic” flea medication can be very dangerous to cats.

4) Antidepressants: Cymbalta and Effexor topped the medically prescribed antidepressant list in 2013. Cats seem strangely drawn to these medications.  Beware, ingestion can cause severe neurologic and cardiac effects

5) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs):  Cats are even more sensitive than dogs to drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen.  Even veterinary-specific NSAIDs like Rimadyl and Meloxicam should be used with caution.

6) Prescription ADD/ADHD medications:  These amphetamines, such as Adderall, Concerta, Dexerdrine and Vyvanse can cause tremors, seizures, cardiac problems and death.

7) Over-the-counter cough, cold and allergy medications:  Those that contain acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) are particularyly toxic, as they damage red blood cells and cause liver failure.

8) Plants containing insoluble calcium oxalate crystals:  Common houseplants like the pace lily, philodendrom and pothos can cause oral/upper GI irritation, foaming at the mouth, and inflammation when ingested, but severe symptoms are uncommon.

9) Household insecticides: Thankfully, most household sprays and powders are fairly safe, but it's best to keep curious kitties away until the products have dried or settled.

10) Glow sticks and glow jewelry:  Summer is a popular time for glow sticks, but don't become lazy by leaving them around the house. These irresistible "toys" contain a chemical called dibutyl phthalate.  When it contacts the mouth, pain and excessive foaming occurs, but the signs quickly resolve when the cat eats food or drinks water.

All the detrimental effects can easily be avoided.  Keeping this list handy in your household will help all members refrain from leaving these toxins available for your cat to consume! 

Source: Pet Age and The Pet Poison Helpline