Making Your Garden Dog Friendly

Making your garden dog friendly should be a priority, to ensure that your dog is safe. Dogs like to explore and they tend to be curious about gardens, because they can be a great playing spot. Having toxic plants or using fertilizers and pesticides could seriously harm your dog.

Fertilizers and Pesticides

Fertilizers and pesticides may be toxic for your dog. Even if the dog does not ingest these toxic chemicals, chances are that the plants you grow contain them, and the dog is exposed to these.

Some fertilizers and pesticides may be harmless for your pet, but make sure you always check the labels of the products that you use in your garden. The labels should indicate that they are safe for pets.

Opt for natural pest control agents. However, dogs may have allergic reactions to these also.

Manure, a commonly used natural fertilizer, may create digestive problems in your dog.

Always make sure you don’t allow your dog in the garden for 3 to 6 hours after you’ve used the fertilizers and pesticides. Check the instructions on the fertilizer labels.

Toxic Plants

There are several plants that are very toxic to dogs, so you should avoid cultivating these. Dogs may eat plants because they may crave greens or because they are curious or bored.

Some of the most poisonous plants for dogs include:

  • Asparagus
  • Apricot
  • Azalea
  • Creeping Charlie
  • Elephant ears
  • Some species of ivy
  • Japanese plum tree
  • Peach tree
  • Cherry tree
  • China berries
  • Onions, garlic
  • Mushrooms
  • Spinach
  • Rhubarb
  • Several species of yew
  • Daffodils and bulb plants
  • Skunk cabbage
  • Plants from the potato family, the Solanaceae or deadly nightshade group of plants: tomatos, potatoes, eggplants, chilli peppers, paprika (especially the leaves and the stems)

If he ingests any poisonous plants, your dog may present the following symptoms:

  • Vomiting
  • Seizures
  • Diarrhea
  • Rashes
  • Cramps
  • Abdominal pain

If you notice any of these symptoms you should make your dog vomit and rush to the vet to avoid poisoning, which may be fatal.

Even if some of these plants are not fatal, in time they could cause tumors, respiratory diseases, kidney and liver problems.

Some plants may create allergic reactions in dogs after skin contact: chrysanthemum, spider mum or weeping figs.

If you want to make your garden dog friendly, you should avoid these plants, or keep them in a special conservatory that your dog doesn’t have access to. Wheat grass and catnip are healthy and even recommended for dogs, so you may grow these in the garden for your dog.

Make sure that the pesticides and fertilizers you use are pet friendly, or don’t use any products at all to be safe.

 

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