Is your garden safe for your puppy?
Your garden
should be a safe, fun haven for the whole family, and that
includes your cuddly new puppy. Many commonplace garden
products can be dangerous and sometimes fatal to dogs. Slug
pellets are especially toxic, as are several weed killers, so
please, read the instructions carefully and above all, keep
these products well out of reach of your pet. If he is unlucky
enough to come into contact with something harmful, or you only
suspect he has, contact your vet immediately.
Your puppy and plants
Many common plants can be poisonous to pets, and some are
fatal. If your puppy is tempted to root out a bulb, for
instance and start chomping away, stop him; they're very
dangerous. Here are some other plants that are toxic to dogs,
in some cases severely so:-
foxglove, primrose, yew, ivy, rhubarb, wisteria, lupin,
sweet peas, poppy, chrysanthemum, laburuheum.
You can obtain a more comprehensive list from the
Royal Horticultural Society on 01483 224234.
Your puppy and garden tools
If your puppy is playing in the garden, never use a
lawnmower or strimmer as these can cause severe injuries. Never
leave tools with sharp blades and points lying around; if your
puppy stands on one, he can be badly injured. And to protect
you from getting a soaking, don't leave the hose pipe out for
him to chew on!
Your puppy and water features
Make sure your water features and ponds are covered while
your puppy is young. He could have trouble getting out of the
shallowest water and injure himself or (heaven forbid)
drown.
Your puppy and fencing
One of your garden jobs should be to check that your fencing
is puppy-proof before he can be let out. The last thing you
want is for your new acquisition to get lost or injured on the
roads. And if you are using a wood preservative such as
creosote, keep your puppy away until it is properly dry, and
make sure tins aren't left open for him to drink from.