April 13, 2012
Posted in How to

'Tis the season for planting, and although many people are excited to break ground on some new dirt, people with pets need to be cautious. Some of the most popular flowers can be extremely poisonous if ingested by your four-legged friends. Everything from certain fertilizers, pesticides and more can potentially put your pet at risk, so it's crucial to take steps to keep your pup out of the garden. 

Plants that should be kept out of yards with pets include chrysanthemums, peace lily, begonias, calla lily, azaleas, ivy, lily of the valley and oleander, to name a few. These plants can each cause unpleasant reactions in pets, some more serious than others. Symptoms that can stem from a dog ingesting poisonous buds include it developing a rash on its mouth or skin, or the dog suddenly having swollen or irritated lips and tongue. If a dog ingests a lot of a poisonous plant or one that it is highly allergic to, it may start to vomit, tremble or become lethargic. These signs could lead to heart, lung or kidney problems if the issue isn't treated right away.

If you notice any of these symptoms, you should rush your dog to the veterinarian's office right away, as wasting time could ultimately jeopardize your pup's chances of recovery. Once at the vet's office, he or she will most likely ask for a complete medical history as well as ask you about the dog's symptoms – when they started, what they are and anything you have done since finding the dog in its condition. This can help the vet rule out other issues like heartworm or stroke as the culprit behind the symptoms shown.

When the vet diagnoses the problem as plant poisoning, he or she may try to induce vomiting to try and help the dog rid its body of the poison. Once the dog is stabilized, the vet will likely start the pup on an IV fluids regimen to help it rehydrate and may start the dog on antihistamine pet drugs like Prednisone to reduce inflammation caused by the allergic reaction. Stick the medication in Greenies Pill Pockets to disguise the capsules as treats.

You'll be able to take your dog home once it is feeling strong enough and you'll want to provide it with a comfortable place to heal. Keep its dog bed and other pet products in the family room or in a quiet spot in the kitchen to allow the dog to feel relaxed and able to rest among its owners. You'll also want to either block off your garden completely with a fence like the Mission Aztec Freestanding Pet Gate or remove any plants that you now know are harmful to pets. 

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