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4 Things in Your Garden That Could Be Dangerous to Your Pet

Spring has officially sprung! The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and you and your pets are undoubtedly spending more time outdoors in the San Diego sunshine. When spring time rolls around, many people enjoy sprucing up their backyards and gardens to take advantage of the planting and growing season, thus being able to enjoy a beautiful space to hang out and entertain.

If you’ve found yourself making trips to the local nursery so you can get a head start on your landscaping this spring, you might be interested to know that some of your gardening tools and supplies could be harmful to your furry family members. Below we’ve outlined four high-risk threats to dogs (and even outdoor-living cats) that may be found in your garden. Keep reading to learn more.

Standing Water

Watering cans, buckets, bottles, and more can all hold standing water. Sometimes we fill up one of these items with the intention of watering plants, and then forget to use all the water. This can be potentially harmful for all members of your family, since mosquitos and bacteria often breed in water. Standing water is especially risky to have around dogs since they might drink it and ingest bacteria. Plus, if your dog spends a lot of time outside, they have the potential of getting a mosquito bite and contracting a disease.

Mulch and Fertilizer

All kinds of chemicals are found in mulch. On top of that, there could also be pesticides or herbicides in your fertilizer. If your dog consumes any of this they could experience anything from stomach pains to poisoning. When using these items, try to keep your dog out of the area (possibly inside your house) and use it in an area where it will be covered up or away from where your dog plays.

Bees

While you most likely did not actively put bees in your garden, they kind of come with the territory. Bees are an important part of the pollination process, so it’s important to let them do their work without harming them. However, it’s also important to know if you have bees around so you can keep a close eye on your dog. Bee stings are just as painful to dogs as they are to humans, and some dogs can even have an allergic reaction to stings. Keep your dog away from bees whenever possible, and make sure to talk to your vet about what do in case a sting happens anyway.

Snail Bait

Snail or slug bait contains a poisonous chemical that tastes sweet to pets. Read all warning labels before using these products and take extra care to make sure your dog or cat stays away from them.

We hope this post has been helpful and has taught you some things to look out for this spring. As licensed and bonded pet caregivers, we always want your dog or cat to be safe. If you ever hire us for our pet sitting or dog walking services in San Diego, we’ll ensure your pet is as safe as possible while you’re away. For more information about our services or to find out which areas of San Diego we work in, please contact us.