Pet owners are being warned of the dangers that spring can bring when their animals are out in gardens and parks.<\/p>\n
Roberta Duncan, clinical director at Moor Cottage Veterinary Hospital in London Road, Bracknell, said while it\u2019s nice to be able to finally banish the winter blues and get out in the fresh air, this time of year can also present a host of potential dangers to dogs and cats.<\/p>\n
Roberta is urging animal lovers to be aware of the potential issues their pets could face as the warmer weather finally emerges.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cSpring always brings a real spike in cases for us. People love to start work in their gardens and to go for walks at this time of year and it\u2019s during these times that common problems start to show themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d urge them to be vigilant because bulbs, lawn feed, weed killer and fertiliser are all dangerous and can cause big problems.\u201d<\/p>\n
While all those mentioned by Roberta can be poisonous to pets, some plants are also toxic \u2013 including bluebells, which can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and an irregular heartbeat.<\/p>\n
Spring also marks the first time of the year when pets are likely to come into contact with ticks, which live in tall grass, lawns and woodland areas.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, dog owners are being warned to keep their pets on leads around new-born lambs as farmers have the legal right to shoot animals which worry their livestock.<\/p>\n
As well as the obvious dangers, homeowners are also being encouraged to check their sheds.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt may sound odd but garden sheds are a threat, too, especially for cats,\u201d said Roberta.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can wander into the shed unnoticed and found a cosy place to settle down \u2013 and at the end of the day we lock up the shed up again, not realising there\u2019s a cat inside.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pet owners are being warned of the dangers that spring can bring when their animals are out in gardens and parks. Roberta Duncan, clinical director at Moor Cottage Veterinary Hospital in London Road, Bracknell, said while it\u2019s nice to be able to finally banish the winter blues and get out in the fresh air, this … <\/p>\n