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The Cats

My cats have always been relatively good at not going after many plants in the house. With exception to anything that resembles grass (which I then usually find when I step on it after it has come back up). I avoided having poinsettias at Christmas and lilies at Easter even though I adore both. I hadn’t had a garden in several years though. And I didn’t even think about what I was ordering for delivery last spring until it arrived.

Then it hit me. I hadn’t thought at all about what plants I was putting out in my garden. And I had two very playful and curious puppies on my hands.

What’s Safe and What’s Not

Then doing some research before bringing the plants around back I figured out which ones I needed to make alternative arrangements for and which ones I needed to put in the front yard where they were not easily accessible. I already knew some of the plants that were poisonous to dogs and cats and had avoided them. But I was a bit saddened by the discovery that some of my favorites could not go in the backyard as planned.

Read about what plants are poisonous for cats and dogs on the ASPCA’s website HERE. They are printable lists of what is safe and what is not which is good to have on hand!

If Your Pet Ingests An Unsafe Plant

If you suspect that your pet has eaten anything that is considered poisonous, it is extremely important to take them immediately to a veterinarian. I have peroxide and a syringe in my doggie first aid kit in case one of my dogs ends up ingesting something they should not so that I can induce vomiting as time counts in these circumstances.

Luckily my dogs do not seem to have much interest in eating plants in my garden. Benson will tenderly nibble at my strawberries when they are starting to get ripe but has much more interest in ripping the entire plant out of the ground and running around with it like a maniac. Although this summer he seems to have grown a fondness for my cucumbers and beans…Grace will chew the bark off the trees in my yard. But it doesn’t mean that I will take a chance.

I have a couple plants that are poisonous in my front garden where the dogs are not allowed. They are always on a lead and supervised in this part of the yard. And I will enjoy other plants through my neighbour’s gardens.

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The post Gardening With Pets: What You Need to Know About Poisonous Plants first appeared on Help! I've Got Pets.