Gardening Safety Tips For Your Pets

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - With spring finally here, it's time to review some gardening safety tips to keep your dogs and cats healthy with a spring in their step.

First, become aware of which plants and flowers are toxic and can even be life threatening to both dogs and cats before purchasing or planting this year. The ASPCA contains a complete listing on its website at ASPCA.org. So check the list before planting.

Make sure to carefully follow directions for fertilizer use and make sure there is no access to the bags. Insecticides can be extremely dangerous and fatal. Make sure to keep your pets completely away from the sprayed area for at least twenty-four hours.

Animals can suffer from seasonal allergies too but not exactly as we do most times. Watch for allergies in the form of skin irritations, itching, scratching, ear and paw infections or irritations.

Cocoa mulch attracts dogs with its aroma and sweetness; it contains as much of the toxicity to dogs as chocolate, and like chocolate, ingestion can also cause seizures. The ASPCA recommends a less toxic alternative such as shredded pine, cedar, or hemlock bark but always with supervision.

Keep your pets away from compost piles, which can be tempting for them and provide safe protection against fleas and ticks.

Reported By Nan Talleno, KYW Newsradio