Dog Dangers Lurking in Your Back Yard

The backyard can be a wondrous play land for your dog. Pup has lots of free, open space to run and chase balls; shrubs and trees to explore, and the wonderful feeling of fresh cut grass on your pup’s tender paws. The joy you will see on your dog’s face when you turn on the sprinklers – watching him enjoy a cool surprise in the heat of summer. Yes, the backyard truly can be a dog’s heaven on earth, as long as you take the necessary precautions to eliminate possible dangers that may be lurking in many back yards.

In most cases, dangers are often overlooked, because they are so common. However, it is important to give your backyard a once over to eliminate potential threats so you can rest easy knowing your best friend is safe when.

Fence:

You may think you’re being cautious by having a fence – you are taking a step in the right direction. A fence can help keep your rambunctious puppy in the confines of your backyard, as long as he wants it to. There are many dogs that find ways around the typical fence. They dig under it or in some cases dogs have been known to jump over fences. If you have a metal or wooden fence, is it in good shape? Jagged edges on these types of fences are common and imagine the horror if your dog happens to dig under the fence and got caught. There’s also the risk he could get cut by one of these jagged edges. A better way to confine your dog is with an invisible fence that trains and teaches your dog to stay within the determined perimeter.

Snakes:

Snakes are something nobody really wants slithering around in their backyard, especially if they have a curious dog running around. Depending on where you live this could be a huge problem. If there are snakes in your area, and the possibility that it could be a poisonous snake you need to take action. There are snake deterrents sold at your local home and garden stores, however these can be dangerous to pets and they smell terrible. What you can do to help deter these reptiles from entering your backyard is to lay down a layer of gravel around the perimeter of your yard. Snakes cannot stand the feel of the rocks against their belly and it should help ward them off.

Plants:

If you have landscaping, you should be aware of what plants are safe for dogs and which ones are actually dangerous. Even some very popular flowers pose a threat to your dog. Caladium, lilies (calla lillies, lilly of the valley and Easter lilly bulbs) Daffodil bulbs, hydrangeas, oleander, and yew plants are just a few of the plants you should avoid. Talk to your veterinarian for a complete list of dangerous plant species. If you can at all stay away from these dangerous species, it is the safest choice for your beloved dog. If you absolutely must have a dangerous plant, do yourself and your dog a huge favor and plant it behind other safer plants to help reduce the likelihood of your pet coming in contact with them.

Fertilizers, Pesticides, Weed Killers:

While we all want our back yards to look plush and well groomed, understand what products you are spraying and the effects they can have on you and your dog. It has become second nature to use these products on our yards to make them greener and weed free, however they are in essence poison and can be dangerous, especially to our pets. Do your homework and look for products that provide similar results without the dangers of many others.

Swimming Pools:

As much as these are desired for a convenient dip, make sure your dog is a good swimmer and never left unsupervised in a high risk area. Swimming pools are a common danger for kids and dogs; it’s imperative to use extreme caution.

When it comes to the health of animals, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Dogs are man’s best friend for a reason, so do what it takes to keep your best friend as safe as possible so you can enjoy years to come without unnecessary scares or heartache.

Dr. Susan Wright DMV is the staff invisible fence alternatives expert for Dog Fence DIY. Dr. Wright has been a practicing veterinarian for more than 10 years and often writes articles featuring helpful tips on their proper care.

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