Pets in the Garden

To your pets, your garden is filled with all sorts of temptations. Keep them safe in the great outdoors.

Whether your cat is prowling through the flowers or your dog is rolling blissfully in fresh-cut grass, your pets enjoy your backyard as much as you do. Sniffing, nibbling and digging are all ways they explore their surroundings, so make sure you’ve created an outdoor environment with plants that are nontoxic and safe if ingested by your pets.
Protect your garden and your pets
Start by choosing plants that won’t be easily damaged by the wear and tear caused by playful pups.

Groundcovers like creeping thyme and sweet woodruff work well because they are attractive and durable.

Ornamental grasses such as pampas grass are also hardy plants that won’t pose any threats to your pets and can be used to section off areas of your garden that you’d like to keep as no-pet zones.

Bamboo is a safe, tough and fast-growing option for this as well. (Visit your local nursery to find out which type of bamboo will grow best in your soil and climate conditions.)

You can safely add color to your garden with nontoxic marigolds, snapdragons, hollyhocks, bachelor buttons and rex begonias. Or give your garden a wonderful fragrance with honeysuckle fuchsia—another safe option.
Give them a space of their own
If your dog loves to dig, train him to do it in his own sandbox. You can encourage him to dig there rather than in your rose garden by burying some of his favorite toys. Your cat will appreciate a quiet corner planted with catnip, cat oat grass and/or cat wheat grass. Just keep the soil moist to prevent her from using the garden as a litter box.
Uproot any toxic plants

While cats tend to be very particular in what they’ll nibble, dogs are far less discriminating. So either take all toxic plants out of your garden or place them in an area that your pets can’t get to.

Daffodils, lilies of the valley, yews, laurels, laburnum, azaleas, foxglove, philodendrons and rhubarb are common plants that pose a danger to your pets. (Most varieties of lily in particular are especially poisonous to cats.)

In some cases, it’s the bulb that is toxic when ingested, not the flower or the leaves—something to remember if your dog likes to scratch around in the dirt. And while asparagus ferns are nontoxic, their berries can cause stomach upset. (See sidebar.)
A rose by any other name
Keep in mind that several plants can share a common name. For example, there are many species named wandering Jew, but the only one that’s confirmed to be nontoxic is the Zebrina pendula. There are also several different plants called African daisies, of which a safe choice is the genus Dimorphotheca.


Pest control and other precautions

Note: All pesticides (including insecticides) sold in the United States are reviewed and registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and, when used in accordance with label directions and precautions, should not present an unreasonable hazard to your pets' health. However, wait at least 24 hours after using fertilizer or pesticides before allowing your pets back in the yard. These substances (along with garden tools and implements) should be stored out of the reach of pets.

* You could also use all natural products to control pest, but make sure what you use is still safe for your pet to use.


Following these tips will help you and your pet enjoy a beautiful and safe backyard all summer long!

How to Setup a First Aid Kit

Ready-made first-aid kits are available at pet stores or through catalogs. You can also put one together yourself, using items from around the house. Put the kit where it can be easily found and include your veterinarian's business card, along with the phone number for and directions to the nearest emergency clinic. Check the kit every once in a while to make sure you aren't running low on any supplies and everything is still usable.

The following items make up a basic first-aid kit:

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Activated charcoal (available at drugstores) for absorbing poisons
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Adhesive tape to secure bandages
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Antibacterial ointment or powder for cleaning wounds
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Antidiarrheal agent such as Kaopectate (Ask your vet what amount is appropriate for controlling your dog's diarrhea.)
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Blunt-tipped scissors to trim away hair from wounds and cut bandaging material
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Cotton balls and cotton swabs
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Gauze pads and rolls to make bandages
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Hydrogen peroxide (3 percent) to clean wounds
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Laxative or antacid such as milk of magnesia
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Lubricating jelly or petroleum jelly to lubricate a thermometer
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Needleless syringe for giving liquid medications
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Plaster splint for broken limbs
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Plastic eyedropper to administer liquid medications or eyedrops
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Rectal thermometer
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Rubbing alcohol
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Syrup of ipecac to induce vomiting
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Tweezers

Other helpful items for your kit might be needle-nose pliers to remove porcupine quills or other items stuck in the mouth or throat, sanitary napkins to help stop heavy blood flow, and towels.

How to get rid of fleas naturally

Fleas are a pest to you and your pet. It is battle that most of us have to face each spring and summer. Up until last year I used medications that I brought at my vet’s office. Last year my dog got a server rash from the medication so we stop using them and looked for alterative for the poisons that we were using. It is important to us to find a great flea preventive since one of my dogs is allergic to fleas and that allergy has caused several other injuries. So here is what I have found to work for us and for others.

Preventative Steps.

1. Keep your pet healthy and strong and they will not be affected by fleas. Make sure that you feed a diet of whole, natural ingredients free from hormones and pesticides. Try a frozen, Raw, or premium food, we have a list of several companies on our site click here.

2. Use Flea repealing supplements, which are also good for their health.
Add Salmon or Flaxseed oils to their diets. This keeps the fleas away and promotes healthy hair and skin.

3. Add a clove of Fresh Grated Garlic to your Dog's Food. (Do Not Give Garlic to CATS). Instead of Garlic you can also use Brewer's Yeast, which is also a good source of Vitamin B1.

4. Grooming you pet removes dead hair, mats and tangles that are a good place for fleas. Invest in a fleas comb as these combs will grab adult fleas. Pay attention to the following areas: Under the legs, around the head and tail and on their belly. These areas are where fleas like to congregate.

5. Bathing you dog regularly will keep fleas off your pets. Use a shampoo with all natural ingredients as these will not dry out your pet's skin as much. Try finding one with Aloe and Oatmeal if possible (unless your pet has an allergy to either). Keep the lather on for at least 10 to 15 minutes to drown any living fleas. Then rinse them thoroughly.

6. Use essentials oils on dog only. You can find a shampoo that contains them or you purchase them to be used. Some great ones are lavender, rosemary, tea tree, mint, need and citrus. Essentials are toxic to cats so do not use them on CATS

Control Methods

1. Try an all natural topical for your pet that contains essentials oils (ONLY ON DOGS). Tea Tree Oil will prevent fleas but it will also kill existing fleas. Be careful when using essentials oils since they are strong and it is best to dilute them with water before use.

2. Do not use Essentials on cats, but you can use aromatic hydrosols instead.
3. Herbal flea powders and collars provide a good alternative but use a natural product

Inside the House

1. Vacuum all your carpet and upholstery, including any dark corners, along baseboards and crevices where they may hide. Get rid of the bad when done. If you have a canister vacuums (like I do, then put it in a plastic bag and get rid of the bag).

2. Laundry everything that can be put in the wash with hot water to kill the fleas

3. Wash all the pets bedding's; put either cedar chips or lavender around or in their bedding to keep fleas from coming back.

4. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around your to kill the fleas and disrupt their reproducing cycle.

Outside the House

1. Clear your yard of piles of leaves, brush and all other debris.

2. Buy beneficial nematodes that kill fleas by infesting their larvae. Look for Steinernema (SC or SF) are the best

If you keep up prevention and treat early your pet will have a great spring and summer. Some of the things that we do are:

1. In the dog house outside we keep cedar chips in and around their house.
2. We bath the dogs ever week.
3. We use cedar and tea tree oil to get rid of and prevent fleas.
4. We spread diatomaceous earth throughout the yard all year round
5. Last but not least we keep all the piles of leaves, pine straw and any other debris cleared out of yard.

I hope that all of these tips are useful for you and your pet.