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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. |
