Love To Garden? Make Sure Your Dog And Your Garden Stay Safe
Posted on: 19 May 2015
If you love to garden and have dogs, you need to be careful. There are some things that are lethal to dogs that are used in gardening, and your dog can be lethal to your gardens. Below are some tips to keep both your garden and your dog happy and healthy.
Build a Raised Bed
Instead of planting your flowers and vegetables flat on the ground, create a raised bed instead. You can purchased raised beds at most garden centers, or you can make one yourself to save money. This type of garden bed is also easier on your back, because you will not have to bend over to take care of your flowers and vegetables.
Give Them a Digging Pit
Put some piles of garden soil in a shaded area in your yard for your dogs to dig in so they can have their own garden. Bury some of their favorite treats and toys in the soil so they can dig for them. Take them out with you every time you work in your garden and lead them to theirs. In time, they will automatically go to it when they feel like digging in the dirt.
Watch Out For Mulch
If you use mulch in your gardens, you need to be aware that some mulches are lethal for dogs. For example, cocoa bean mulches have a chocolaty smell that is enticing to dogs, but it contains theobromine, which is lethal for them.
Pine needle mulch can also be dangerous for dogs. If ingested, the pine needles could puncture your dog's stomach lining.
Instead of this use cedar, pine, or hemlock mulches as an alternative. You should still keep in mind that your dog could still choke on the mulch so they should always be supervised while playing outside.
Use a Barrier
If you are planning to plant things like potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant in your garden, put a barrier around it, such as a fence. The foliage and stems on these vegetables contain tomatine and solanine, which can kill your dog. They can eat the actual vegetables, however, as it is only the foliage that is dangerous for them.
You should also be careful if you plant onions, scallions, or shallots. If your dog eats a large amount of them, he or she could suffer from red blood cell damage.
If you have questions about what you plant, contact your veterinarian who will be able to give you a list of plants that are dangerous for your dog. He or she will also tell you what signs to watch out for in case your dog does get sick and when you should seek medical treatment for them (at hospitals like South Hills Animal Hospital).
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