Spring is perfect for working on your garden. Pet owners should be particularly cautious that they don't accidentally poison their furry friends with their greenery.
Cat owners should avoid planting lilies, as limited ingestion can cause kidney failure. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your cat has eaten any part of a lily.
Crocuses are dangerous to pets. Depending on the species of crocus, your pet can experience symptoms ranging from vomiting and diarrhea to internal bleeding and respiratory failure.
Ingestion of very lovely flowers can lead to fatal results. Unfriendly plants for pets include aloe, azalea, cyclamen, kalanchoe, oleander, dieffenbachia, daffodil, foxglove, certain palms, tulip, hyacinth and poinsettia.
To satisfy your green thumb, consider planting something non-toxic to your four-legged friend. Ferns, orchids, succulents, snapdragons, roses, butterfly flowers, spider plants and African violets are all safe.
You may consider growing vegetables that your pet can consume. Squashes, gourds, cucumbers, carrots and lettuce are safe bets. Avoid onions, garlic and chives. Potato leaves and skins are dangerous.
You can try fencing off your garden from your pet. You know how curious your buddy can be, so keep that in mind.
Fertilizer is bad for your pets. A cayenne insecticide can help fight pests. You may try giving your dog a bit of full strength cayenne spray so he knows it tastes terrible. He'll avoid the insecticide after that. Snail bait is toxic and looks like dog food.
If your pet eats a potentially unsafe plant from your yard, take a photo of the plant with you to the vet.
Listen in as Emmy award-winning veterinarian Dr. Jeff Werber shares how to grow a pet-safe garden.
Planting a Pet-Safe Garden
It's time to plant your garden. Be sure to keep kitty Gus and puppy Buster safe when you work the land.
Additional Info
- Segment Number: 2
- Audio File: health_radio/1618ml5b.mp3
- Featured Speaker: Jeff Werber, DVM
- Guest Website: Dr. Jeff
- Guest Facebook Account: www.facebook.com/DrJeffWerber
- Guest Twitter Account: @DrWerber
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Guest Bio:
Dr. Jeff Werber has dedicated his life to the care and protection of animals. A renowned veterinarian and pet parenting specialist, Dr. Jeff maintains that pets are more than just companions; they are part of the family and deserve to be treated that way.
A top graduate of the University of California Davis Veterinary School, Dr. Jeff established his Los Angeles-based private clinic, Century Veterinary Group, in 1988. Dr. Jeff cares for the pets of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Britney Spears, Julia Roberts, Ben Affleck, Eddie Murphy, Paula Abdul, Rod Stewart, Mark Wahlberg, Patrick Dempsey, Mandy Moore, Jennifer Love Hewitt and many more – along with those of everyday pet owners.
He is a highly sought after and frequent guest speaker on a number of national news programs and has lent his expertise on CBS The Early Show and Sunday Morning, CNN Sunday Morning, Fox News Channel and Rachael Ray. As an Emmy Award winning veterinarian, he has hosted the wildly popular Petcetera on Animal Planet Network, sharing his compassion and knowledge with millions of viewers around the country, encouraging responsible pet ownership and care. He currently hosts Pet Care TV, a program offering pet care tips and tools, that is broadcast in 1,500 Veterinarian clinics throughout the United States.
Dr. Jeff is dedicates his time to many groups in the animal welfare community, such as Best Friends Animal Society, Last Chance for Animals, Hounds and Heroes and a number of rescue groups including Angel City Pits, Ace of Hearts, Forever Fido, Wags and Walks, Furry Friends, Eloise, Bill Foundation, among others. He also serves on the advisory board of Veterinary Economics Magazine.
Dr. Jeff has translated a childhood love of pets into a career committed to raising and shaping national awareness of the importance of high quality pet care. - Length (mins): 10
- Waiver Received: Yes
- Host: Melanie Cole, MS
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