We show you how to check your garden for hidden dangers and ensure your pets’ safety outdoors
If you use fertilisers and other products in your garden …
Make sure you have a cupboard in the garage or a shed for fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides and insecticides and lock them away. If you need to spray plants for insects, keep your pets indoors for a day or so. Where possible, always choose organic products that are safe, not only for your pets but also for any wildlife that may frequent your garden.
Even organic products like kraal manure and bonemeal, if ingested in large quantities, can make your pet very ill, so always monitor pets when you are working in the garden with various products.
- When adding fertiliser – chemical or organic – to your flower beds, dig it in very well. If your dog likes to dig in newly tilled soil, rather keep him indoors for a day or so. Monitor him when you let him into the garden again.
- Keep pets away when spraying herbicides. If you spray the lawn, keep your dog indoors for a day or two (check the product guidelines).
- If you have dogs, avoid cocoa mulch as it contains theobromine, the same chemical in chocolate that is toxic for dogs. Some dogs will find the smell of the mulch irresistible and will eat it.
- Never use slug or snail bait that contains metaldehyde if you have dogs. Ingestion could result in seizures and even prove fatal.
- Be very cautious with rodent poison, even if you place it in a secure, pet-friendly rodent feed station. Should the mouse or rat die and your pet ingests it, they too will be poisoned. If you need to address a rodent problem in your garden, rather consult a professional as they have the correct knowledge to ensure your pets stay safe.
Which plants can be dangerous for your pets?
These include:
- Autumn crocus
- Azalea
- Cyclamen
- Kalanchoe
- Lilies
- Oleander
- Daffodils
- Lily of the valley
But, you can still have a beautiful garden! Get your February issue of Animaltalk to see which plants are safe for your pets.
