Author: Julia Disney

As you savor these last few weeks of summer, you (and your pets) may be trying to get in as much outside time as possible before the chill of winter [remember, she's writing from Illinois] sneaks up on us all. But perhaps your pet, like mine, tends to eat anything and everything, edible or not. The backyard is full of what your pet may think as tasty treats, but, you may wonder, can anything out there be poisonous?

Dr. Tina Wismer, adjunct professor of toxicology at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and senior director of Veterinary Outreach and Education at the ASPCAAnimal Poison Control Center in Urbana, says that there are many dangers for our four-legged friends lurking in the great outdoors.

The first thing that may come to mind, of course, is plants. Your dog may feast on grass and flowerbeds, but that could result in more than just a high landscaping bill. Various plants and mushrooms are poisonous to dogs and cats, with consequences ranging from mild vomiting to death. Some of the most toxic plants are more common in certain regions of the country. Yews, azaleas/rhododendrons, water hemlock, poison hemlock, and castor bean are among those highly toxic plants which are very common in the Midwest. [Popular in Southern California, sago palms are toxic to cats, dogs, and horses- and can cause death.]

Because of the danger to your pets, it is extremely valuable to learn the names of the plants in your yard and take proper precautions to prevent exposure, even if that means removal or blocking the plants off. If your pet ingests part of a plant or mushroom you cannot identify, Dr. Wismer suggests first contacting your veterinarian. Bringing a sample of the plant to your veterinarian or a local nursery or even doing a simple Google Image search can aid in identification. Identification is very important, as it will aid your veterinarian in providing the appropriate treatment to your pet.

Other potentially harmful substances lurking in the backyard include products you may use to keep pests away or to beautify your garden. Products like snail and slug baits (containing metaldehyde) and insecticides can result in toxicity. The key, Dr. Wismer says, is to be sure to "follow all label directions before using around any pets.  Many products have a specific time frame that pets need to be off the treated areas."