Backyard Dangers!

The backyard is a place where families and their pets can enjoy fun and games. It is also the place that many pets are left on their own while their owners are at work. Many pets spend most of their lives in a backyard so it is up to us to ensure that it is a safe place for them.

Poisons
Snail bait is a major threat for pets as the ingredients in most of the formulas are not only attractive to snails, but cats and dogs too.

 Gardeners can protect their pets by opting for a non-toxic method of pest control. Snail traps can be made from a common plant pot saucer filled with beer and placed in the garden. Snails are partial to a drop of ale and will climb the saucer to reach the beer, but then be unable to climb back out again.

Sheds and under houses are other areas where people can store poisonous substances. Just like children, inquisitive pets can get their noses into all sorts of dangerous stuff;  so lock the doors and seal the gaps.

Creepy visitors
Depending on where you live, any number of unwanted animals and insects can be found in the backyard. The most common are ticks, spiders, cane toads and snakes. Any of these three dangerous species can seriously injure or even kill a pet.

Cane toads are a national pest and secrete a poison that can kill pets, but pets don't know this and often play with them at night. Going out at night into the yard with a flashlight will show you where the cane toads are hiding. Rid your yard of cane toads by catching them and placing them in a freezer (which kills them humanely) and then dispose of them.

Ticks, spiders and snakes are less easy to track down, and the best you can do is keep the grass down and the trees trimmed so that there aren't too many hiding places for them.

Swimming Pools
The swimming pool is a high-danger area for both people and pets. It is a sad fact that pets can fall into pools and be unable to get themselves back out again and eventually drown. Ensure that the gate of the pool is always closed, and never leave a pet unattended around the pool area.

Sticks
One of the oldest games people have played with their dogs is fetch. The traditional 'toy' used in this game is the handy stick. Unfortunately a broken tree branch can be a killer. All vets will agree that stick injuries are common. Often it is the eye area that is affected and these wounds can be serious, often leading to blindness.

Another common injury occurs when a dog chews the stick. The sharp splinters can actually pierce the delicate windpipe or stomach lining, or become lodged in the bowel. Instead of playing fetch with a stick, try one of a variety of toys available such as balls and frisbees or make one of your own from a piece of cut-off garden hose or a rubber ring.

Toxic trees and plants are common and can be found in many backyards. It’s a good idea to find out which plant varieties you have in your backyard, so that you can remove them or restrict your pet’s access to them via chicken wire or fencing.

Some poisonous flowering plants include: Daffodil, tulip, narcissus, azalea, bleeding heart, buttercup, daphne, delphinium, hydrangea, rhododendron and the roots of the peony, iris and hyacinth. Also, the leaves of eggplant, rhubarb and tomato plants are poisonous to dogs.

Some harmful trees include: avocado, oak, english holly, horse chestnut, yellow oleander and ornamental yew. The seeds or pits of apple, apricot, cherry and peach fruit are toxic and can cause a pet to choke if swallowed.

Fences
Fences are imperative if you have pets, but a fence to a pet is a challenge; a challenge to get over it, under it or through it!

Maintain your fence to prevent possible injuries. Sharp wire is a common cause of injury. Splintered wood on a fence paling is also dangerous. Replace or properly repair the broken palings to prevent injury and escape.

Ensure the height of the fence is sufficient so your pet can't jump over. A pet that can jump a fence, or nearly jump it, may find itself impaled on top. For this reason, never have a fence with pointed palings.

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