Your Jacksonville Veterinary Provides Helpful, Informational Tips to Protect Your Pet’s Health if You’ve Decided to Start Gardening

Gardening is a wonderful hobby for people of all ages. It’s relaxing, enjoyable and rewarding, especially when you’re planting fruits and vegetables. But it’s important to ensure that your pets are staying safe when it comes to your gardening, whether it’s certain plants, herbs, fruits or veggies. Take a look at these helpful tips from our Jacksonville veterinary so the entire family, including the furry members, can enjoy their Summer.

Know how Certain Fruits and Veggies Affect Your Pet

While there may be countless fruits and vegetables that you’d like to grow and enjoy, there are some common produce that can make your pet sick if it’s ingested. Veggies like onions, garlic, chives and leeks can be toxic to your pet if it’s ingested in large quantities, which can be a lot less than you realize depending on the size of your pet.

Tomatoes are also quite harmful. Unripe tomatoes contain tomatine, a toxic that can cause weakness, vomiting, and even heart issues. As the tomato grows, the tomatine decreases, so be sure to keep your pets away from them in their unripe state. In moderation, a small amount of ripe tomato can be enjoyed, but it’s better to avoid it or ask us if it’s safe for your pet.

Raw potatoes can also cause gastrointestinal issues, but fully cooked potatoes can also be an enjoyable treat for your pet – of course, in moderation.

Be Mindful of Both a Healthy Garden and a Healthy Pet

It’s no secret that dogs love digging, whether it’s in the sand, snow, dirt, or maybe against their favorite blanket to find the best comfort spot. But there are certain fertilizers, composts, and mulches that can cause illness.

If fertilizers are consumed, they can cause irritation to the stomach, as well as significant vomiting. There are also certain organic fertilizers that may contain ingredients that can cause joint soreness, muscle soreness, stiffness, and an upset stomach.

There are composts that could contain molds, which if consumed in any amount of quantities, could cause severe illness, gastrointestinal issues, and more.

If you’re looking for other helpful gardening tips to protect your plants AND your pets, don’t hesitate to give our Jacksonville veterinary a call at (904) 731-5341 and schedule a visit with us where you can learn more about your pet’s health and what to avoid if you’re interested in taking up this hobby.