Landscaping With Your Pet In Mind

  Posted on April 21, 2016  by Joy of Living  No comments

Now that it’s Spring, many folks are focused on landscaping. With that endeavor comes a responsibility to keep your pets safe when they roam around the yard.

When landscaping our gardens and yards, it’s important to make sure our animal friends are free from harm and poisonous substances.

Fertilizer And Insecticide

When applying fertilizer to your lawn, please follow the instructions carefully and allow for the proper waiting period after application before letting your pet run free across the yard. If your pet digests any of the fertilizer, it could cause stomach upset or even a life-threatening intestinal obstruction.

When using insecticides, be sure to store them in areas inaccessible to your pets. Be sure to follow the label for proper use and storage. While these products are necessary for a healthy garden, they can be quite dangerous to a dog or a cat.

To be on the safe side with fertilizer and insecticide, wipe your pet’s paws with pre-moistened towelettes.  Many pets lick their paws and can ingest harmful chemicals in the landscaping products.

Mulch

Cocoa mulch is frequently used in landscaping for its attractive odor and color. However, its sweet, chocolately scent can attract dogs. If consumed by a dog, this mulch can cause vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, seizures, and hyperactivity.

Consider using shredded pine, cedar, or hemlock bark, but make sure you also keep an eye on your four-legged buddy when he or she is out in the yard sniffing around!

Composting

Are you composting? Good for you! Mother Nature loves you! However, be aware of what types of food you may be putting into you garden soil that could be potentially harmful to your pet, such as coffee, moldy foods, and certain types of fruits and vegetables. Those can prove toxic to your pet.

Gardening Tools

And when using your garden tools, please be sure to put them away when you are finished using them. They may seem harmless, but if a dog pokes himself on a rake or on any other sharp tool, he or she can risk tetanus.

Conclusion

So, go ahead and enjoy your beautiful yard this Spring! Just be sure to employ a few safety tips into your endeavors so you and your pet can safely and happily play in the yard!

Now, go fetch!

This post was originally published in March 2012 and has been edited for format and additional contents