As the spring season begins, many people will start tending to their gardens. While we love filling our gardens with our favorite plants and flowers, parts of them can be dangerous to our four-legged friends.

To help keep your garden dog-friendly this spring, the American Kennel Club offers the following advice.

Pick your plants carefully. Blooming plants, grasses and flowers can trigger seasonal allergies in dogs. Bulb plants such as tulips, daffodils and crocus can be extremely toxic if ingested. Other common plants such as sago palm and oleander are also poisonous to dogs. If you see any signs of allergies, you should take your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Plan when you plant. Dogs can become extremely ill or even die from eating poisonous plants or flowers. To prevent your dog from eating these plants, don’t garden with them present – otherwise they may conclude that playing with plants and digging are acceptable activities. Avoid letting your dog walk on any lawns that have been treated with fertilizer, herbicides or insecticides.

Be careful with pesticides. Pesticides can be hazardous to your pup. Do not use pesticides that include metaldehyde or methomyl, used for snail or fly bait. Be sure to follow the directions on the product carefully and store them in a place that your dog cannot reach.

Designate a play area. Give your pup a designated play area outdoors that is separate from your garden. This will be a space where your dog can run around and burn some energy or even safely do some digging.

For more information on responsible dog ownership, visit the AKC website at www.akc.org.

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