Keep pets away from poisonous plants

[TexasStooge]

By MARY ANN RAZZUK / WFAA ABC 8

PLANO, Texas — Warm weather and an explosion of spring color have people flocking to local nurseries. But one Plano pet owner is urging residents to be aware of the potential dangers of certain plants.

John Henry said his once-healthy pit bull became seriously ill and then died on Friday. He suspects the dog ate parts of a sago palm plant in his backyard.

"There were pieces of it lying around," Henry said. "The obvious conclusion that I came to was that my dog had ingested the sago palm, and when I talked to my vet, she said that all the symptoms did fit that."

The seeds of the plant reportedly contain dangerous toxins. In pets, that can result in liver damage, liver failure and even death.

"We always try to tell people," said Doug Biegert, a spokesman for Calloway's nursery chain. "Some of the more toxic things—like oleanders, cherry laurels—can be quite toxic."

John Henry got his palms from a different chain store nursery.

"You've got your plant marker in there that tells you what kind of light conditions are good for the plant, what kind of soil conditions what kind of water conditions," he said. "They don't have anything that tells you about the toxicity of these plants."

While Henry loves his palms he plans to move them out of the reach of his other dog, Maximus.

He wants his experience to be a lesson to others—for the protection of their pets.

[Janice]

We used to put mothballs in pantyhose pieces and put in the garden. No animal went near the plants or mothballs.

[Miss Mary]

Good topic - thanks for posting that Stooge.

Never spray Roundup on a paver patio, to kill moss or weeds that can grow between the bricks. I read a post on a Golden Retriever board once, from an owner who did this. Her 3 year old dog would lie on this patio, soaking up the sun and lick his paws. Suddenly he got very sick and the Vet did exploratory surgery. The dog was filled with cancer. From the Roundup. The owner was heartsick and started a topic alerting other dog owners.

I never use pesticides near our dog. And would prefer pulling weeds to just spraying them.

Mary