Summer means spending more time outdoors - both for you and your pet. But there are a number of hidden dangers in your garden that could be hazardous for your canine.
Products bought to use in the garden, such as weed killers, can be toxic to animals. And even food waste can prove a problem.
Vets Now shared with the Mirror six things to be aware of when it comes to making your garden a safe place for your dog.
Compost heaps and food waste bins
To keep your dog safe in the garden, you should avoid a compost heap that they can access, as they're usually full of mouldy food and waste. Mycotoxicosis, which is poisoning by-products contaminated by fungi, can be fatal, so it's best to keep your dog well away.
Similarly, food waste bins should not be kept where dogs can reach them because of the same concerns over mouldy food.
Lawn feed and pest killers
If you want to get rid of garden pests, it's best to do it in a natural way. Many insecticides and pesticides contain chemicals such as metaldehyde or disulfoton that are toxic to dogs.. It's best to read the packaging and double checking before making any decisions.
Lawn feed and moss killer also pose a similar risk and can cause skin problems, or gastrointestinal issues.
Slug and snail pellets
In the same way as insecticides, netaldehyde-based slug and snail pellets are one of the most common types of poisoning that vets see. Signs of the poisoning can occur as quickly as an hour after ingestion.
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Mushrooms growing in the grass
Mushrooms growing in your grass should also be avoided as "while some mushrooms are edible, others are highly toxic", according to Vets Now. It can be hard to tell which are bad for your dogs - so remove them altogether.
Symptoms of eating funghi include sickness, hallucinations, and even kidney or liver failure.
Toads
Toads may look harmless, but they can be potentially fatal for your dog. Dogs will want to play with animals that movem but "toads produce a venom through their skin when they’re under attack and toad venom poisoning can be fatal if left untreated", Vets Now says.
Symptoms include foaming at the mouth, vomiting, and signs of general distress such as pawing at themselves.
Flower bulbs
While it may be tempting to plant certain bulbs in your garden such as daffodil, lily, and spring crocus', they are all toxic to your dog if ingested. They can cause vomiting, upset stomachs, and heart and kidney problems, so if you own a dog who is likely to dig them up, it might be best to avoid having them in the garden.
If you suspect your dog has come into contact with any of these things, Vets Now recommend you call your vet immediately, or if it's out of hours, take your dog to your nearest emergency clinic.
