Veterinarian Bernadine Cruz explains how some garden favorites can actually be harmful to pets.
- Make a plant inventory of each plant you have in or around your house. If you don't know what they are, take a piece of the plant to a nursery to find out.
- Carnations and green tomatoes are both hardy, common plants that can give dogs an upset stomach if they eat either of them.
- Morning-glory seeds can cause a pet to hallucinate, so keep them out of reach.
- If you suspect your pet has ingested an offending plant, take your pet and a piece of the plant to your veterinarian immediately.
- English ivy can be irritating to the mouth and intestines. If a pet chews on this ivy, it will salivate profusely.
- The fruit of a nightshade (or blue potato) plant can cause neurological problems.
- There are plants that can be fatal. Lily of the valley, azalea, foxglove and oleander are among them. It's always a good idea to keep these types out of the yard if your pets go outside.
- If a cat ingests even part of a daylily, it could cause permanent kidney damage.
- If you have plants that could pose a threat, bird netting is a good solution for shielding the offending plants. Another solution is to hang plants from the ceiling.
- Spray plants with a solution of cayenne pepper and water to prevent pets from licking or tasting them.
Guests Dr. Bernadine Cruz
Veterinarian, Laguna Hills Animal Hospital
Laguna Hills, CA
Phone: 949-837-7333
Website:
lagunahillsanimalhospital.com Also in this Episode
