The basic requirements to having a healthy, happy pet include feeding a healthy diet, making sure they get plenty of exercise and keeping up with their veterinary care.
But what about making sure they have a safe outdoor environment?
During this time of year, we all want to be outside enjoying our yards–especially our pets. As loving [...]
The basic requirements to having a healthy, happy pet include feeding a healthy diet, making sure they get plenty of exercise and keeping up with their veterinary care.
But what about making sure they have a safe outdoor environment?
During this time of year, we all want to be outside enjoying our yards–especially our pets. As loving pet parents it’s important to know about the lurking dangers in our own back yards. Some of the products used commonly to enhance our lawns, like commercial fertilizers, contain chemicals and pesticides that can be harmful to our pets and children. It’s easy to assume that name brand fertilizers sold in national chain stores are safe, but in fact they can be harmful and in some cases even deadly to our beloved friends. Even the ones that claim to be “pet safe” can still contain toxins, which could lead to long term health problems. Some key products to be especially careful of are:
Fertilizers
They make your grass green, but certain types can be extremely dangerous, even deadly to your pets if accidentally ingested. Read the labels and follow the directions carefully. Keep your pets out of the area where you are applying these for at least the suggested amount of time on the package. The presence of heavy metals in these fertilizers like iron, can cause serious gastrointestinal problems if ingested. The best way to prevent an accidental exposure is to avoid using chemical fertilizers all together. If you have to, store them in a secure area your pet can’t get to. Consider using an organic alternative that’s safer and better for the environment.
Pesticides, Herbicides & Rodenticides
These poisons kill, bottom line. Many of the ingredients used in these baits to entice pests, smell appealing to your animals too. If you have to have these around, take every precaution to keep them in a place that is inaccessible to your pets. Depending on the type, ingestion can be potentially life-threatening.
“The most dangerous of these are: snail bait containing metaldehyde, fly bait containing methomyl, systemic insecticides containing disyston or disulfoton, zinc phosphide containing mole or gopher bait and most forms of rat poisons.”
ASPCA’s common questions to gardening and yard care
Do some research. The website pesticideinfo.org provides a searchable database of products and ingredients. You can see exactly what’s in these products and how harmful the chemicals are.
Common Plants
Many common house plants are actually poisonous to your pet. Some of our favorite outdoor flowers and shrubs like: azalea, rhododendron, lilies, kalanchoe and schefflera can be harmful if swallowed. Lilies are especially bad for cats. Small amounts can be life threatening.
17 Common Poisonous Plants
Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants
No cocoa mulch!
This product is made using cocoa, a toxic ingredient for dogs. It smells great to them, but can cause vomiting, diarrhea and elevated heart rates if eaten.
If you suspect your pet has been exposed to any poison, bring him to your veterinarian immediately. Contact the animal poison control center. If your vet is not open, bring them to the emergency veterinary clinic. If you suspect you pet ate a plant you can’t identify, bring a sample to a local nursery for identification.
Below is a list of numbers for local resources:
24hr Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435
Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center, Norwalk, CT: 203-854-9960
Try a Natural Alternative
Organic lawn care can produce a beautiful natural yard that’s truly safe for your dogs, cats and the environment. Your, pets, family and even your neighbors will thank you for reducing toxic runoff that can contaminate our local eco-system and eventually our own water supply.
Resources:
- The Truth About Cats, Dogs & Lawn Chemicals: A great documentary video about the dangers of lawn chemicals to your pets. A little long but worth the watch.
- Tips for Pet Friendly Landscaping: A short video with great tips.
- Raise a Green Dog: Natural pet safe lawn care tips with reviews of organic fertilizers.
- Easy organic lawn care from National Geographic.
No related posts.
3 Responses
Thanks for these resources! I just read a story about artificial lawns in San Diego (http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jun/28/mz1h28turf222417-fake-grass-hot-issue/?metro&zIndex=123482). I have to wonder if these are healthy for pets?
[...] lawn care is one such option, but there are others. The Unleashed Pet Shop blog recently wrote a post on some great resources to help you get going with safe lawn care practices [...]
Your post “Is Your Yard Pet Safe? | Unleashed Pet Shop’s Natural Pet Care Blog” was interesting when I found it on… what day is it, oh yeah today, duh, Friday… anywho I was searching on google and thought it wasn’t helping me out at first. Got what I needed here, thanks.