In recent months I have “sort of” taken a leaf out of decluttering guru Marie Kondo’s book. I’m not necessarily keeping only the things in my life that spark joy, but instead I am trying to do more of the things that spark joy. One of the things on that list that does exactly that for me is spending time in my garden. I get great satisfaction from seeing plants grow and spending time outside in the fresh air. Another thing that I do that sparks joy is spend time with my new pup. So quite naturally I want him alongside me when I’m pottering around in the garden. As a newcomer to dog parenthood, I was astounded by the number of garden hazards for dogs. Some are detailed here so you and your pup can more safely enjoy the garden together.
- Plants – Many plants in the garden are extremely poisonous for dogs. Azaleas may look stunning in the garden but are highly toxic, as are lilies. Even plants such as tomatoes or potatoes can be garden hazards for dogs. Try to include dog-safe plants and flowers where possible.
- Slugs and snails – Slugs and snails can carry a parasite that causes lungworm in dogs, so it is important to make sure they don’t ingest these creatures. If your dog does manage to eat a snail, keep an eye out for difficulty breathing, lethargy and coughing and contact your vet if you notice your dog is exhibiting any of these symptoms.
- Fruit from trees – Fruit sounds like it would be healthy, but there are parts of a fruit (such as the stone) that can be highly toxic if eaten by a dog.
- Pesticides and fertilisers – All of these are highly toxic for a dog. If you need to use them make sure you do so when your dog isn’t likely to be going into the garden for a while. To store them, it’s best to keep these items in a shed that your dog can’t easily access.
- Compost bins – These often contain vegetable scraps that may start to mould or may not be suitable for a dog to ingest in the first place. Make sure your dog can’t get into the content of the compost bin.
