Of Gardening And DogsPicture from Moosey's Country Garden

Hi Everyone! Yup, it's me Chase again, The sun is shining, the birds are singing (Well, our African Grey Parrot, Nick does not sing but he does some wonderful whistling and loves to imatate the wild birds singing!) It's Summer Here in California and I am headed outside to our garden to roll in the grass and bounce through the flowers and chase butterfies! Mom's going to talk to you about gardening and dogs and how to do it "naturally". Enjoy! ARF!

I belive that few things bring us people greater joy than our dogs and gardens. In both cases, you invest effort up front, then continually enjoy the rewards long afterwards.

However, beware, your garden can be hazardous to your dog's health. It's a wonderland of smells, textures and colors that are designed to catch the attention of people - and animals alike. However, the important thing is to be aware before you begin gardening for the season. A little common sense and planning can ensure a beautiful garden and a healthy happy dog as well.

Many gardeners enhance the beauty of their lawns and flower beds with chemicals that can harm their dogs and in reality us as well. While I am sure you are careful to store these out of the way and confine your dog somewhere safe while applying them, the risidual effects to your garden of keeping it weed free or bug free is toxic to you and your dogs as well. Always make sure you read labels before using any products on your lawn or in your garden. Make sure the products are chemical free and all natural.

There really is no need to use chemicals in your garden at all! In fact, I never have nor did my grandmother before me that instilled my love of gardening.

Some things to be aware of:

Baits that eradicate rodents are usually highly toxic, containing strychnine (a very poisonous alkaloid) or one of a variety of substances that prevent blood from clotting. Even snail and slug baits can cause seizures and DEATH! Our sweet boy, Joevee was killed by ingesting a mouse or squirrel that had been poisoned.

While I do not use any baits or pestisides or chemicals in my house or yard, someone else near by us obviously does and with out thinking or knowing, killed our beloved dog. We are still not sure how the poisioned animal got in our yard but the fact of the matter is, it did!

. Mulch.

Most of these are safe but do not use cacoa bean mulch. If your dog ingests enough, it can cause chocolate toxicity. Consumption of mulchs can also cause stomach upset and in some cases depending on the mulch, intestinal blockages.

If your dog does ingest any of these, contact your vet right away.

Poisonous Plants

Some of the plants below may give your dog an upset stomach if eaten, but others may kill him. If you plant any of these, please consider fencing them off securely.

Almonds
Amaryllis leaves and flowers
Apricots
Autumn crocus bulbs
Azalea stems and leaves
Birds of paradise stems
Black-eyed Susan
Bleeding heart flowers and stems
Boxwood Bark, stems and leaves
Buttercup
Castor bean seeds (very toxic)
Cherry laurel wood and branches (very toxic)
Chinaberry tree wood and branches
Clematis stems and leaves
Daffodil bulbs
Delphinium plants
Dumb cane leaves (very dangerous)
English ivy fruit
Flowers bulbs of any kind
Foxglove stems and flowers
Holly berries
Kalanchoe
Jack-in-the-pulpit
Jasmine leaves
Jerusalem cherry leaves and flowers
Jimsonweed or thorn apple (very dangerous)
Larkspur stems
Laburnum bark, flowers, seeds and leaves
Lily of the valley leaves and flowers
Locoweed
Lupine stems and flowers
Mistletoe berries (very poisonous)
Mountain laurel
Mushrooms- any that you can not identify as safe
Oleander bark, stems, and leaves (very dangerous)
Peaches
Philodendron
Poinsettia leaves
Pokeweed
Potatoes
Privet bush stems and leaves
Rhododendron leaves
Rhubarb leaves
Skunk cabbage leaves and flowers
Tomatoes vines
Virginia creeper bark and stems
Wandering Jew
Wisteria bark and leaves
Yew bark, needles, and seeds (very dangerous)

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