We love watching our dogs having fun in the back yard, be it running around or playing in between the flowers. Although a joyful sight to see, some of the things present in our back yards might not be so safe for our canine companions.
These are some of the things we should keep an eye out for:
Toxic plants: to many of us, most plants look the same. However, some plants can be toxic for our dogs to ingest. The best thing we can do is take time to read up about commonly found poisonous plants and check for them in our gardens.
Fruits and vegetables: although most ripe fruit is safe for dogs, there are some to watch out for. The stems, leaves, and unripe fruit of tomatoes can cause an upset stomach and vomiting for our canine companions. Onions, garlic, and other alliums are toxic to our precious pooches and we should make sure they are separately secured.
Mushrooms: certain fungi (mushrooms) can be extremely dangerous for dogs. The best thing for us to do is to consistently check our back yards for them, especially after heavy rain (as they love to grow in moist conditions).
Wild animals: most wild animals should stay away from your back yard. However, if you find one attacking your dog, get yourself to safety and throw water on the fight to break it up. When the scene is safe, assess your dog for injuries and take them to the vet if necessary.
Worms: worms are commonly found in soils, so keeping your precious pooch up to date with deworming medication is always important.
Poisons and pesticides: although pests are a common problem for many of us, the poisons we use for them can be harmful to our dogs. Where possible, mouse traps could be used instead of poison. It is also important to lock away all pesticides from our dogs’ reach.
Feature Image Source: Pixabay