Gardening season brings whole set of dangers for dogs

Seems like my entire block has been out working on their yards. Weeding, watering, mulching, planting and fertilizing. The mock crabapple tree is ready to bloom, but I lost another rosebush over the winter. Maybe I should just plant something else in that spot.

The warm weather brings out gardeners and more people with their dogs. Animal Poison Control Center's pet poison prevention expert Dana Farbman notes, "Keeping animals safe from accidental poisonings should not end once you've stepped outside. Protecting your pet from potential hazards in your yard is just as critical."

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center reports they field tens of thousands of calls each year involving animal companions who've had potentially hazardous contact with insecticides, pet-toxic plants and weedkillers.

The Animal Poison Control Center recommends we watch out for the following potential hazards in our gardens and yards:

• Poisonous plants: There are many plants which are toxic to dogs and cats. These include outdoor plants such as sago palm, rhododendron and azalea. Sago palm and other members of the cycad family as well as mushrooms can cause liver failure. Rhododendron, azalea, lily of the valley, oleander, rosebay foxglove and kalanchoe all effect the heart. The Animal Poison Control Center has an extensive list, as well as pictures, of toxic and nontoxic garden plants.

• Fertilizer: Ingesting large amounts of fertilizer can give pets a good stomach and may result in life-threatening gastrointestinal obstruction. The Animal Poison Control Center recommends following instructions carefully and observing the appropriate waiting period before letting your animal run outside.

• Cocoa Mulch: Cocoa bean shells, a by-product of chocolate production, attracts dogs with its sweet scent, and like chocolate, can cause problems for them. The Animal Poison Control Center notes, "Depending on the amount involved, ingestion of cocoa mulch can cause a range of clinical signs, from vomiting, diarrhea and muscle tremors to elevated heart rate, hyperactivity and even seizures." They suggest using a less-toxic alternative such as shredded pine, cedar or hemlock bark.

• Insecticides: The following are listed as the most dangerous forms of pesticides by the Animal Poison Control Center: Snail bait with metaldehyde, fly bait with methomyl, systemic insecticides with the ingredients disyston or disulfoton, mole or gopher bait with zinc phosphide and most forms or rat poison. Always store pesticides in inaccessible areas and read the manufacturer's label carefully for proper usage and storage.

• Compost: Depending on what is going into the compost pile or bin, the garden waste or food may cause a problem for our pets. Coffee, moldy foods and certain types of fruits and vegetables are toxic to dogs and cats.

• Fleas and Ticks: Keeping lawns mowed reduces fleas and ticks which can cause excessive scratching, hair loss, scabs, hot spots and tapeworms as well as anemia from blood loss. Ticks may lead to tick borne diseases such as Lyme disease.

• Allergies: Some pets may have allergies to plants. The Animal Poison Control Center cautions, "If you suspect your pet has an allergy, please don't give him any medication that isn't prescribed by a veterinarian." They also recommend keeping your pet out of other people's yards and off their lawns.

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center notes: "If you think that your animal is ill or may have ingested a poisonous substance, contact your local veterinarian or our 24 hour emergency poison hotline directly at (888) 426-4435."

The Animal Poison Control Center is an excellent resource if you think your pet has come in contact with or ingested something possibly hazardous. I keep the number handy.

With the warmer weather here it's nice to get outside and enjoy our yards, our neighbors and our dogs.

• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is an all-volunteer, nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to the rescue of stray, abused and abandoned animals. Call (847) 290-5806 or visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org.