Plants that put pets at risk

23 May 2008 5:30 PM | http://www.morpethherald.co.uk/

Pets could be put at risk this Bank Holiday by their owner's designs for the garden, a leading veterinary charity has warned.

Garden treatments and some of our most common plants and flowers can pose a serious poisoning risk to cats, dogs and other pets.

Now PDSA, which provides free veterinary treatment to the sick and injured pets of people in need and promotes pet health, is calling on all green fingered pet owners to carry out a 'garden audit' to eliminate some of these risks.

One of the biggest hazards to pets is garden treatments containing cocoa shell mulches. They contain high levels of theobromine, a chemical that is highly toxic to pets - just a few mouthfuls could kill a Cocker Spaniel!

Daffodils, lilies, laburnum, cherry laurel, castor oil bush and philodendron are all highly poisonous to pets and can prove fatal to our furry companions.

PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Sean Wensley, said: "As Summer approaches and people and their pets take to the garden, it's time for increased vigilance to ensure the safety of pets. Pets can be poisoned by eating certain leaves, stems or flowers, or simply by coming into contact with certain plants.

In the worst cases, plants can cause coma and even death, so PDSA advises you to ask your supplier for advice before introducing new or unknown plants into your home or garden. For example, lilies are particularly dangerous to cats and eating as little as two or three leaves can rapidly cause vomiting, diarrhoea, drowsiness and even death. Even licking a small amount of the pollen from the fur can be harmful.

Mr Wensley added: "The plants highlighted are just a few of those that can poison or irritate our pets. There are many more, which is why it is so important for pet owners to find out as much as possible about the plants in their house and garden, even those along their favourite walks.

PDSA encourages pet owners to pick up its 'A Safer Garden for Pets' leaflet, which offers a wide range of advice and tips on keeping pets safe while outdoors. The leaflet forms part of a larger range of pet health and welfare leaflets that cover a variety of topics including First Aid, Diet and Nutrition and Vaccinations. The leaflets are available free from all PDSA PetAid hospitals and charity shops UK-wide or can be downloaded from www.pdsa.org.uk.