Toxin Tuesdays: Lawn and Garden Products

It is ok for your pet to help you garden, just make sure you are keeping an eye on him! (Image Source)

Although the weather doesn't seem like it here in central Illinois, spring will eventually arrive. With springtime comes gardening. Today we are going to focus on several fertilizers and yard products that we need to be aware of in regard to our pets. One of the most important things is to either keep the bag the product came in or take a picture of it and the active ingredients. This will help tremendously if accidental ingestion occurs. There are so many different lawn care products and without knowing the active ingredients it will be difficult to determine if it poses a threat to your pet.

This guy looks pretty happy, and he will stay that way if he doesn't chew the mulch! (Image Source)

Some of the fertilizers used in gardening can be very appetizing to our pets. This can include cocoa mulch and bone or blood meal. Cocoa mulch if eaten in large enough quantities can lead to vomiting and diarrhea as well as muscle tremors. It may be best to avoid this product if you have pets or restrict their access to it. Blood and bone meal mainly cause gastro-intestinal irritation, but can make other items more appetizing. For example if flower bulbs are planted in this product dogs may try to eat them. Although most bulbs are not toxic they could lead to a gastro-intestinal obstruction which can be just as serious. If your pet begins to eat either of these products please contact your veterinarian immediately.If gastro-intestinal side effects are the only issue observed there are several medications that can be prescribed to help soothe and calm the upset system.

Sniffing is ok, but eating is best avoided (Image Source)

Most other fertilizers pose very little risk to our patients in terms of toxicity. While they may cause upset stomach, many of the ready to use variety are fairly safe. This doesn't mean your dog should just go out and eat a bag of fertilizer. It means that if an accidental exposure occurs then most of the time the symptoms will be mild and limited to vomiting or decreased appetite. In some cases if the gastro-intestinal upset is severe enough it can lead to pancreatitis which can require hospitalization and supportive care. This is why a call to the veterinarian is important to upset stomachs can be dealt with immediately and hopefully before they get out of hand.

Everyone is excited for spring and being outside. Proper supervision of your pet can avoid a lot of trouble! (Image Source)

As with most products, if you are concerned that your pet may have ingested something on accident always contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline.