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The backyard is home to a number of things that can contribute to a dog's ill health. This is especially true with puppies and breeds of dog that like to play a lot. Dogs also have a habit of chewing anything that catches their eyes. Our favorite pets also have a curious nature. They will explore anything and everything that interests them.
With all that said, think of the many things in your backyard that can ruin your dog's health. Homeowners sometimes pile compost in their backyards. This compost pile is a mountain of adventure that calls out to the dogs instinctive urge to explore new ground. As compost piles mature, certain chemical reactions take place within the pile that may produce poisonous or hazardous material.
If you're lucky, the dog will explore your compost pile early on when decomposition still has to take place. The worst that could happen to your dog is a messy coat and very foul odor. Your backyard will be a mess too. If your dog decides to explore the pile later on when decomposition is taking place, a chance brush, inhalation or ingestion of some of the compost material may cause your dog to sicken up and die.
Blue-green algae in ponds are poisonous. If your dog decides to take a lick of water and accidentally ingests the algae, chances are, your dog will get sick. Animal toxins may also be present in your backyard. You don't really know what kind and how many frogs, snakes, spiders, scorpions and insects pass by your backyard. The citronella candles that you use to keep the mosquitoes away can poison your dog too.
Some of the more common garden supplies that you store in the backyard are considered to be dangerous toxins. Garden mulch with a mixture of cocoa, methomyl from fly traps, snail and slug traps and cleaning and treatment supplies for your pool are all present in the backyard. If these things are not stored correctly, chances are, your dog will get to them eventually.
Plants also have their own poisonous properties. Dogs are particularly susceptible to poison from grape vines, castor bean, azalea, kalanchoe and sago palm. Delete these plants from your landscaping list if you own, or are planning to own, a dog. Don't think that a fence will keep your dog away. If you've seen show dogs chasing away at frisbees, then you have a general idea of how high a dog can jump.
Most of the commercial chemicals used for maintaining the garden or your backyard are now replaceable with organic or all-natural products that have lesser poisonus properties contained therein. For your peace of mind and the dog's safety, you might want to consider consulting with a few gardeners and figure out which organic materials are necessary for maintaining your garden. Once you have them in stock, you can start throwing out the old commercial chemicals and give your dog a safer environment to play in.
Even though you try to make the environment as safe as it can be for your dog, there will be times when some things just become unavoidable. It's a handy practice to know the location of a veterinary clinic nearest you. |
