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Other toxic plants include peony (Paeonis officinalis),
primrose (Primula vulgaris), foxglove (Digitalis
purpurea), morning glory (Ipomoea spp.), western
bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa), clematis, lily of
the valley (Convallaria majalis), lantana, iris, yarrow
(Achillea millefolium), onion (Allium cepa)
and garlic (Allium sativum). Ask your veterinarian
for a complete list of toxic plants.
While even this condensed list may seem extensive, there are
a number of non-toxic plants pet owners can grow. These include
alyssum, pot marigold (Calendula officinalis), impatience
(Impatiens spp.), petunia, zinnia, bachelor's button
(Centaurea cyanus), hens and chicks (Echeveria elegans),
tickseed (Coreopsis californica), common snapdragon
(Antirrhinum majus), gerber daisy (Gerbera jamesonii),
hollyhock (Althea rosea), cucumber (Cucumis sativus),
beet (Beta vulgaris) and zucchini (Cucurbita pepo).
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Take
caution when using chemicals in the garden; they could
make your pet ill. |
Chemical
Dangers: Fertilizers, Herbicides, Insecticides and Others
Sometimes garden preparation and maintenance products include
chemicals that can be harmful if pets ingest them. When applying
fertilizers or herbicides to the lawn or garden, it's best to
keep pets away from the locale for several days. When walking
through a treated area, pets can come in contact with the chemicals
and become ill from licking the residue off their paws.
Pet owners may want to assess how inconvenient a pest is relative
to the treatment required. "Understanding the pest and
following the instructions on the product label...will help
decrease risk [to pets]", says Martha Hoff of Colorado
State University's master gardener program. If a pesticide is
warranted, it should be used in areas that are out of a pet's
reach. A dog or cat that has ingested pesticide may be lethargic
and experience vomiting, tremors or convulsions.
Rodenticides
are designed to taste good to rodents, making them of interest
to cats and dogs as well. Anticoagulants, which function by
inhibiting blood-clotting factors, are the most commonly used.
Rodenticide poisoning in cats and dogs may present with the
following symptoms: anemia, blood in the urine, internal bleeding,
weakness, lack of coordination and rapid, shallow breathing. |
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