How to make a pet-friendly garden.
Sunshine, fresh air and room to run make outside a fun place to be. But, while your dog plays, you want to be mindful of dangers looming in your garden. From certain types of flowers to the mulch and fertilizers you use to keep your lawn and garden healthy, it’s important to know what’s safe and what could be harmful to your pets.
“In a pet emergency room, it’s common to see dogs coming in because of something they ingested from their owner’s lawn or garden,” says Dr. John Gicking, a board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care at the BluePearl Pet Hospital in Tampa.
Cocoa mulch.
You may find it surprising to learn that one of the most common garden dangers for dogs is an aromatic variety of mulch. Cocoa mulch, known for its rich chocolate-brown color and nutritional benefits for soil, is toxic to canines. It contains cocoa bean shells and various chemicals that can make a dog sick if ingested, just as if he had eaten too much chocolate candy.
Unfortunately, the chocolate aroma appeals to many dogs, making cocoa mulch a huge threat in the gardens of pet families. Cocoa mulch ingestion can lead to:
- Gastrointestinal irritation
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Rapid heart rate
- Muscle tremors
- Weakness
- Seizures
- Death
While cocoa mulch may look appealing, dog owners may choose a safer alternative such as dirt, stones or mulch made from shredded pine, cedar or hemlock bark.
Commercial and natural fertilizers.
Keeping your garden healthy and beautiful can be a lot of work. Many people turn to fertilizers to help feed their lawns and gardens. While they can work wonders for your plants, those fertilizers can spell trouble for your pup.
While commercial fertilizers may provide nutrition for plants, they contain harmful chemicals that are toxic to dogs. Your dog can accidentally consume these chemicals when they are sprinkled on the lawn or garden just by running and playing outside and then grooming himself.
While even small amounts can cause issues, you want to keep your pet away from fertilizers altogether. When a pet consumes larger amounts of fertilizer, like when they find the bag in storage, it can become a life-threatening situation.
“Be aware of when you apply fertilizers and pesticides and how you store them,” says Dr. Gicking. “The key is to minimize your pet’s exposure to them.”
Signs that your dog consumed fertilizer include:
- Drooling
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing
- Tremors and seizures
Organic fertilizers sound safe. But surprisingly, many of them are actually more dangerous. Organic or “natural” fertilizers often contain various “meal” leftovers from the farming or meat industries. These products, such as bone meal, blood meal, feather meal and fish meal, are attractive to dogs, but unhealthy for their digestive systems.
Signs and complications include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Intestinal obstruction
- Severe pancreatitis (inflamed pancreas)
Plants and flowers.
Before you take a trip to your local gardening center, check out this video to learn which plants are toxic and which plants are safe for pets. Even some well-known and loved flowers can be harmful if ingested.
As a seasoned expert in veterinary care and pet safety, I bring extensive knowledge and hands-on experience to guide pet owners in creating a secure and enjoyable outdoor environment for their furry companions. Dr. John Gicking, a board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care at the BluePearl Pet Hospital in Tampa, has emphasized the importance of being vigilant about potential hazards in your garden to prevent pets from ingesting harmful substances.
One significant threat to dogs in gardens is cocoa mulch, known for its enticing chocolate aroma. This seemingly harmless mulch can cause serious health issues, including gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heart rate, muscle tremors, weakness, seizures, and even death. My expertise extends to recommending safer alternatives, such as dirt, stones, or mulch made from shredded pine, cedar, or hemlock bark, to protect your pets from the dangers associated with cocoa mulch.
Commercial fertilizers, commonly used to maintain a healthy garden, pose risks to dogs due to the toxic chemicals they contain. Even small amounts of these chemicals can lead to symptoms like drooling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and tremors. Proper storage and timing of fertilizer applications are crucial to minimizing your pet's exposure. Dr. Gicking underscores the importance of being cautious with both commercial and organic fertilizers, as the latter, often considered safer, can also pose dangers. Organic fertilizers containing leftovers from farming or meat industries, such as bone meal, blood meal, feather meal, and fish meal, may attract dogs but can result in vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal obstruction, and severe pancreatitis.
I further emphasize the need for pet owners to be aware of the potential toxicity of plants and flowers in their gardens. Even well-known and beloved flowers may be harmful if ingested by pets. To assist in making informed choices, I recommend checking reliable sources, like videos or guides, to identify which plants are safe and which should be avoided.
In conclusion, my comprehensive understanding of veterinary emergency care, toxicology, and preventive measures positions me as a reliable source for guiding pet owners in creating a pet-friendly garden environment. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your garden remains a safe haven for your pets to enjoy sunshine and fresh air without exposing them to potential hazards.
