Living In Harmony: Pets In The Garden

By Nancy K. Crevier

If Fido has a fetish for foxglove or Tigger takes a taste of tiger lily, you might find yourself with a pooch or pussy that needs some TLC.

Both of these plants, not uncommon in New England gardens, are toxic to our furry friends. And while your pet parakeet might not spend time outdoors, onions and garlic harvested from your garden and brought inside can turn “Polly Wants a Cracker” into “Polly Needs a Coffin.”

Gardens, it seems, are less than Eden for pets. Common plants such as azaleas, baby’s breath, calla lilies, daffodil, elephant ears, lily-of-the-valley, morning glory, rhododendron, and yew are just a few of the dozens of plants listed by the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) as poisonous to pets, particularly dogs and cats.

Tomato, eggplant, and potato plants (fruit, stems, and leaves) are toxic to pets, but what home garden is without them? The ever-popular geranium adds color and fragrance to pots and garden beds, but beware — all varieties spell trouble if your canine or feline ingests them.

 Does this mean tearing out your favorite plants to ensure your pet’s safety? According to Dr Brian Silverlieb and Dr Christina Lagana of Mount Pleasant Hospital for Animals, such a drastic solution is unnecessary.

These veterinarians do not see many cases of plant poisoning in their hospital. Dogs and cats and horses are unlikely to ingest toxic plants intentionally.

Says Dr Silverlieb, “They [pets] are likely to poison themselves more out of playing with these things than eating them.”

The Japanese yew bush is very toxic to horses, he says, but a horse would have to be uncared for and extremely hungry to devour any part of this plant. What Dr Lagana worries about more than toxic plants are toxic materials gardeners use to keep their lawns and gardens looking top-notch.

“We see rodenticide poisoning far more often,” she says. People put out rat and mouse poison to protect their bulbs and tubers, but these poisons frequently find their way into the mouths of young pups, causing horrible pain and even death. “The old [rat] poisons caused blood clotting to slow, and they bleed to death, which is bad enough. The new [rat] poisons cause tissue calcification,” a very painful and deadly condition, says Dr Lagana.

Cat owners should be wary of using snail bait to safeguard their vegetables and ornamentals. It is highly toxic, and attractive to cats. Just a small amount ingested can lead to illness.

Rose foods, which are organophosphates, seem innocent enough, but Dr Silverlieb warns that this common garden application is very toxic to dogs and cats — and children. Fertilizers, plant foods, and pesticides need to be used judiciously, and pets should be kept inside during application. Horse manure, he says, is the most harmless fertilizer to use.

When a pet comes in with vomiting and diarrhea, one of the questions these veterinarians ask is, “Has a lawn service been spraying or fertilizing?” Pets need to be kept off of lawns that have been recently treated.

Dr Karin Harter of Berkshire Veterinary Hospital in Sandy Hook sometimes sees contact reactions in her patients from newly fertilized lawns.

“Plant food should be worked into the ground to keep pets away,” she says. She recommends that gardeners read and follow directions on labels when using plant foods and fertilizers. “Keep everything in the original containers in case there’s a problem.”

Knowing what your pet has ingested is vital to proper treatment, whether it is a plant part or toxic materials used in the yard.

“Frequently we can’t diagnose,” says Dr Harter. “If people don’t see the pet eat it, we have no index of suspicion that plants were the cause.”

Toxicities, she continues, are more common in dogs, particularly young pups. Horses, cats, and other small mammals will consume plant matter, but not as frequently. Any of the breeds, such as Labradors or golden retrievers, that are bred to be mouth-conscious can be more apt to chew, although it depends on the individual animal. If you have a pet prone to chewing or digging, a garden barrier might be a wise move.

People worry about plants they have intentionally set out, but homeowners with pets need to be aware of what grows wild at the perimeters of their property as well. Vines, ivies, and weeds pose a threat to domesticated animals. Buttercups may be lovely to look at, but can cause nasty lip blisters and severe gastrointestinal disturbances if a horse decides to nibble the pretty petals.

A curious pup might consider a mouthful of acorns fun to munch, but the resultant gastrointestinal distress will not be nearly as much fun. Mushrooms are fairly common for dogs to eat, says Dr Harter, and she regularly sees hunting dogs that have chewed burrs from their fur, only to have the barbed burrs embed in the dogs’ mouths.

At his practice on South Main Street, Dr Neal Warner also sees instances of mushrooms and burrs causing problems for pets, especially dogs. Why do they eat these noxious items?

Dr Warner shrugs and says, “We don’t really know. Probably because they are curious. Animals outside are curious and inquisitive. They’ll be nosing around, digging in the dirt.”

Learn About Plants

It is important, he emphasizes, that gardeners know what plants they are putting in and learn about them. If pets are going to have access to outdoor plants, owners should know what symptoms to look for if Fifi or Fluffy decides to make a meal out of the flower border.

If you see your pet gnawing on vegetation and they later exhibit lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, salivating, or seizures, the safest thing, says Dr Warner, is to call the Animal Poison Control Center — even before visiting the vet. Open every day of the year, the Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 is the best resource for poisoning emergencies. The Poison Control Center does charge a consultation fee, but with the reference number provided, the veterinarian can access information for free.

Even plants designated as safe, such as grasses, marigolds, and violets, can be irritating if large quantities are consumed, and sometimes even the most cautious pet owner finds their pet displaying symptoms of plant poisoning. Besides keeping the Poison Control Center number handy, the ASPCA recommends pet owners keep a pet safety kit on hand. In the kit keep:

A bottle of hydrogen peroxide 3 percent

A can of soft cat (cat owners) or a can of soft dog (dog owners) food

A turkey baster, bulb syringe, or medical syringe

Saline eye solution to flush eyes

Artificial tear gel to lubricate eyes

Mild grease-cutting dishwashing liquid after skin contamination

Rubber gloves

Forceps to remove stingers

Muzzle — an excited animal may bite

A pet carrier

It does not have to be a case of beauty vs beast. With knowledge and planning, it is possible for pets and plants to live in harmony. The best advice?

“Use good judgment,” Dr Warner urges. “Be observant. Watch pets when they are outside.”