Steer Clear of the Wrong Noms for Your Pets
By Leigh Siegfried

spring

With spring right around the corner, that often means more time outside with our furry friends. When not sniffing or digging around, our pets are exploring the world, and often with their mouths. Some of our companions have an “eat first, ask questions later” approach to life. And while this can come in handy when they score a cheesesteak from the kitchen counter, this can also spell big trouble. The ASPCA poison control hotline received 180,000 call last year alone from panicked pet owners. Here are a few things to keep in mind as this spring to avoid edible drama and to keep your pets safe!

Lakes and Open water
Blue-green Algae

If you have a pooch that loves to hit the water, steer clear of open water with algae blooms that look like pea soup. Dogs that love to swim or play in lakes can ingest the algae which can produce toxins (microcystins and anatoxins), and a few mouthfuls of algae-contaiminated water can result in poisoning. Lakes tend to bloom in the warmest summer months, so here’s a heads up now to keep your eyes peeled for this as things warm up.

Tip: Head for lakes or circulating open water, not standing water. And revisit and reward calling your dog to you; this comes in handy when you need it most.

Plant Curiosities:
Grass

Many times our pets munch on grass, and this is rarely cause for concern, unless the grass is treated with chemicals, then…it could be a problem. In most cases, grass eating is a normal behavior to cleanse the body or to sooth an upset stomach.

Tip: If your dog or cat does love to munch on the green stuff, consider growing wheat grass (indoors) and offering a few snippits in their food.

Outdoor blooms

There are a few common outdoor spring blooms that are toxic, including daffodils, lily of the valley and tulips (bulbs). Outdoor shrubs that are toxic include azaelas and rhododendron, which are common to the Northeast. And for our friends in warmer parts of the country, oleander is toxic to pets and can be found blooming along side highways in California, Hawaii and Texas.

Garden plants

Good news for gardeners, as there aren’t a lot of fruits and veggies that are toxic. We have known a few dogs in our day that will pick blue berries faster than their human could gather them, but there are a few things to keep in mind. With tomatoes, nothing is toxic with the red fruit itself, but anything green- including green stems, vines and green fruit- can be toxic. The same goes for the leafy greens of rhubarb. Though some dogs have been known to eat grapes with impunity, there have been cases of kidney failure after dogs have eaten grapes. Play it safe and steer clear of greens, grapes and raisins with your pets.

Tip: Supervise your pet indoors and outdoors. Give curious dogs interactive toys like a stuffed Kong to keep them busy.

 

Indoor plants

Poinsettias are a well known indoor plant that can be a danger to pets, but Easter Lilies can be toxic to cats especially. Also the popular house plant, Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane) is also toxic to animals. This is a common house plant because it grows well in low light an has large leaves. See the picture to identify if you have one of these in your home.

Tip: Stick with non-toxic plants all together or keep plants in high, hard to reach areas for pets.

killer-house-plant

Whether you plan to meander around the local park, hit the trails or get into gardening have a safe and wonderful spring with your furry companions.

 

Resources & Tips:

Poison Control Hotline
Should your dog consume something potentially toxic, please consult with your Vet ASAP or consider the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline number: (888) 426-4435.

Do your pets a favor and program it into your phone, so you are prepared in an emergency. Note: there is a consultation fee, but it’s well worth it.
Not sure what is and isn’t toxic to your dog?
Check out the Om Nom? App  (Note: it’s .99 cents, but could be worth it’s weight in gold for your dog’s safety)
Want to know what’s toxic for your pet?
For a comprehensive list, visit this link to the ASPCA Poison Control Library

 

Leigh Siegfried is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer that has been working professionally with dogs since 2002. As the founder of Opportunity Barks Behavior & Training, she and her staff have worked with over 3000 dogs in Pennsylvania and Virginia, including 11of the Michael Vick dogs. She’s very interested in canine cognition, the human-animal bond and dog friendly training. Though very involved in the Philadelphia dog scene, Leigh also enjoys the quiet life on her farm in Bucks County with her dogs, Sweets and Tater, and her cats, Clem and Pie Face

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