Tips for Keeping Your Yard Dog Friendly
It’s our job as pet parents to make sure our yards are safe areas where our dogs can play, explore, and go potty freely. Dogs and other animals end up in veterinary emergency rooms every year from hazardous contact with insecticides, weed killers and pet-toxic plants.
We have created a guide to help you have a dog-friendly yard.
- Avoid toxic plants – when designing and planting your yard, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that many popular outdoor plants are poisonous.
- Think twice about insecticides – insecticides are NOT meant for four-legged animal consumption. Always store pesticides in areas inaccessible to pets and children.
- Fertilizers are for plants, not animals – fertilizer or plant food can cause destruction in our pets’ digestive tracts. Make sure to follow instructions carefully and allow the appropriate waiting period before letting your pet run wild outside.
- Pick safe mulch – like chocolate, cocoa mulch can pose problems for our pets. Pets love its sweet smell, and depending on the amount ingested, it can cause a range of symptoms. These include sickness, vomiting, diarrhea, and elevated heart rate. Try using other alternatives, such as cedar, shredded pine, or hemlock bark.
- Put the tools away – you should properly store all garden tools in a safe area. They may seem harmless, but rakes, tillers, hoes, and trowels can be hazardous to pets and children.
- Reduce flea and tick hiding spots – fleas and ticks hide in tall brush and grass in your yard, so it’s important to keep lawns mowed and trim.
What kind of precautions do you take in your yard with your pets? Let us know!