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LIFESTYLE

SO WHAT CAN I PLANT?
At this point, you’re probably wondering
whether ripping up the whole garden and WHAT TO DO IN A
laying paving might be the best idea. But
don’t call in the bulldozers just yet. There POISONING EMERGENCY
are plenty of plants that are perfectly
safe for our furry family members to If you suspect your pet has eaten or been exposed to a poisonous plant,
frolic in and around (and even to take as with any veterinary emergency, the key is to act quickly. Take photos of
the odd nibble of . . .). Herbs like Sage, the suspected offending plant, or take a piece of it along to show the vet.
Dill, Parsley, Rosemary, Mint, Thyme and
Lavender are great pet-friendly options, as The majority of plant toxicity cases show similar symptoms*:
are Violets, Begonias, Snapdragons and
6XQÁRZHUV IRU D VWXQQLQJ VSHFWDFOH 7KH • Drooling
PDJQLÀFHQW %LUG RI 3DUDGLVH Strelitzia) is • Vomiting
a good guy and so are daisies. Dogs and • Diarrhoea
cats love nibbling on grasses, which are • Abdominal cramping
safe for them. • Tremors
• Seizures
The staff at your local nursery or • Disorientation
garden store will be only too happy
to give you advice and a quick check • Dilated pupils
online also yields loads of helpful • Listlessness.
information regarding toxic and safe
garden plants. Don’t forget to ask
about fertilisers and pesticides you
might plan to use in the garden. Use
of carbamate and organophosphate
insecticides on plants can lead to
secondary poisoning of pets.
If you’d like to incorporate certain
toxic plants in your chosen garden
designs, what about creating a space
with all access to pets restricted?
You could even go a step further and
plant them their very own pet-friendly
patch on a specially designated part
of the property where they can play,
chew, chase and dig in complete safety
and with reckless abandon. Make
it a pet-fun-zone with splash pools
for dogs, sandpits where they can
happily dig for toys and chews without
upsetting anyone, trees for kitties to
climb and plenty of catnip or catmint
plants, scrubby foliage and resilient
grass species to roll about on without
concerns about allergies. The only limit
is your imagination. We are fortunate
in SA that our pets are able to enjoy
plenty of outdoor time. Design them
a garden-haven where they can enjoy
the sunshine and fresh air in complete
safety.
+HUH·V WR WKH 1HZ <HDU ÀOOHG ZLWK VXSHUE
summer days and evenings spent in
gardens that are not only spectacular to
look at but are also safe places for pets
and kids to do all the things that pets
and kids love to do, without a care in the
world.
Happy 2020 from all at Twisted Whiskers
Pet Deli and Spa.
Tomato plants contain substances called glycoalkaloids, which will
cause nasty tummy upsets for pets if eaten.

* Additional resources:
http://betterhousekeeper.com/2014/08/01/10-tips-for-gardening-with-dogs-heres-how-to-keep-them-and-you-garden-safe/
The University of Pretoria Library website offers helpful content on symptoms of specific plant toxicity,
visit: www.library.up.ac.za/vet/poison/index.htm

For a comprehensive and international guide to pet-toxic plants, visit The Humane Society of the United States website:
www.humanesociety.org/sites/default/files/docs/poisonous-plants-to-pets.pdf
Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 1 • 2020 39