April showers bring May Flowers

This is the time of year when people are spending hours outside working in their gardens and planting beautiful lush flowers. We pick the right hanging baskets, buy new planters and pick out the perfect flowers for our yard. All the showers we get in April, bring out our beautiful flowers in our yard.

Pets love being outside on those beautiful spring days, especially when we are outside with them. I think at times we as pet owners forget to be extra safe with our lawn and garden choices. There are precautions to take when choosing the right flowers, especially when we have pets.

We love fragrant flowers and all that they attract. Our dogs are often very curious and have a great sense of smell and can get themselves into trouble. Sometimes dogs will consume the foliage or flowers of our plants and these flowers could cause bad side effects, and at times~ could be life threatening.

There are many dog websites that can help us decide on which pet friendly plant to choose and which pesticides are safe for our animals. You can visit the ASPCA or visit the Poison Control site to actually see what these flowers look like.

A quick reference for toxic plants for dogs are:

• Castor bean (Ricinus communis)
• Oleander (Nerium oleander)
• Morning Glory (Ipomea sp.)
• Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
• Nightshade (Atropa belladonna)
• Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
• Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans)

Don’t’ forget that bulbs can be toxic too!
• Daffodil
• Tulip
• Hyacinth

If you are unsure about the flower you have chosen, you can ask your Veterinarian or ask the nursery for help. If you think your dog has ingested any toxic flowers, call your Poison Control Center asap or visit your Vet!

Grab your dog toys, family toys and get outside and enjoy this weather and watch your flowers grow knowing they are safe for your dog and family!