Help for busy people and their pets. Get the training that your animal needs to be the amazing creature that they were meant to be!
21/04/2025
Springtime can be a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with our furry friends.
Hopefully in the UK we will see more sunshine, so that even indoor cats can benefit from an afternoon of sun bathing!
There are a few cautions to keep in mind however, which mainly have to do with
…. POISONS….. and taking care around wildlife.
There are two levels of toxicity that pet owners should be concerned about:
The first is when the animal eats something that he shouldn’t and then gets diarrhoea or vomits as a result. He is not really poisoned, just sick from the unhealthy substance. Every owner knows the experience of coming home to a pool of vomit as the dog or cat has eaten something which upset her stomach. This includes some plants which are unpleasant only in large quantities, so please do not leave your animal unattended near plants or flowers.
The biggest danger is that some plants are poisonous to dogs or cats, and sadly these are often the beautiful spring flowers that we bring into our homes at this time of year.
– LILIES CAN CAUSE COMPLETE KIDNEY FAILURE IN CATS after eating any part of the plant. If you suspect that your cat has eaten any part of a lily, call you emergency vet practice IMMEDIATELY. Do not wait until kitty shows signs of illness, as by then it can be too late.
– Tulips, Narcissus or Daffodils can cause vomiting or diarrhoea
– Lily of the Valley,
– Cyclamens (often sold as houseplants)
– Hyacinths are poisonous to dogs and cats as are azaleas and rhododendrons.
Most flower bulbs are toxic to animals, so be careful if you like to dig them up after they have finished blooming. It is best to store the bulbs locked in a garden shed away from the animals.
Cats and dogs should not be allowed to wander into garden sheds as they contain many toxic substances.
Another worry at Easter is CHOCOLATE. Everyone loves Easter candy, and it is common to leave the Chocolate bunnies and eggs around the house as Easter decorations.
WARNING!!
There are ingredients in chocolate such as caffeine and theobromine which can cause serious illness or even death.
Chocolate is highly poisonous to both dogs and cats. In dogs, chocolate poisoning can cause life threatening heart problems and nervous system reactions such as seizures. In cats they can suffer from vomiting, diarrhoea, increased heart rate and acute kidney failure.
I know this all too well from personal experience. Some years ago, my cat almost died from kidney failure caused by eating chocolate. Her life was saved by our brilliant veterinarian, but she could easily have died.
In general, dark chocolate is more poisonous than milk chocolate.
Each animal will have a different threshold level so many may become sick after eating only a small amount.
WILDLIFE AND YOUR ANIMAL FRIEND
Lambs are adorable, but please keep your dog on lead around lambs and wild birds. Dogs chasing lambs or sheep is called ‘sheep worrying and Farmers have a legal right to shoot a dog that is chasing their sheep. Sheep can die from the fright of being chased by a dog.
Wild birds are nesting now. Please consider restricting your cat’s access to garden bird nesting areas to avoid the death of baby birds.
Swans are quite aggressive in defending their cygnets from dogs. This can result in serious injury to the dog, or possible death to the baby swans. If you are walking your dog near a swan nest, please keep them on lead for everyone’s safety.
Ducks and other water birds have hatchlings near them in our ponds and rivers. The baby birds are so vulnerable, please keep your dog under control.
Here are some links about the toxins I mentioned.
https://www.pdsa.org.uk/taking-care-of-your-pet/looking-after-your-pet/all-pets/chocolate-poisoning
https://www.rspcansw.org.au/what-we-do/care-for-animals/pet-hazards/toxic-plants-for-pets/
