Page 124 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2019

HOME & GARDEN fur & foliage
Keep Your Pets in Mind While Planting this
As temperatures rise and you begin to think about landscaping this spring, keep in mind the fury members of your family too.
“Considering pets when designing your home landscape is important
for the health and happiness of your pets and for the appearance of your landscape,” said Christian Stephenson, extension agent with the Mississippi State University Extension Service.
From his experience, Stephenson recommends that when designing your yard be sure to include areas where your pets can play and explore. “Including
garden paths won’t ensure that pets keep to a specific area, but they can be useful
as a training tool for
where pets should
and shouldn’t go,” he
says. “Sturdy bushes
or ornamental grasses
along paths will help
define the path as well
as tolerate rambunctious pets.”
He also recommends layering in hardier perennial plants to shield smaller, more fragile plants that might be easily damaged by pets. “It is also a good idea to purchase plants in a larger size for areas where pets will frequent,” says Stephenson. “Active and curious pets can sometimes damage tender young plants and
even established plants by digging. Frequent urination by pets in a small area can damage turf grass.”
Stephenson notes that some plants can be harmful or unpleasant
to animals, and Ocean Springs’ veterinarian Dr. Michael Dill agrees. “Animals are drawn to eat plants because a lot of them taste good,” says Dill. “Certain plants can be more toxic to certain animals than others.”
According to Dill, cats are more at risk than other animals because of their metabolic pathways. “They don’t have the capacity in their liver to handle these types of substances.”
Dill and Stephenson agree that sago palms can be quite poisonous to pets. Dill notes that dogs are more likely
to eat sago palms, and that the most toxic
part of that particular plant is the nuts the
palm produces. In his practice, Dr. Dill sees
liver failure when treating an animal
that has ingested sago
palm parts and typically a 50 percent mortality rate in these cases.
Dill says plant materials like oleander and lantana can cause gastrointestinal issues but most of the time the animal cannot eat enough to be lethal. He also urges homeowners to watch their yard for toxic mushrooms that can pop up after lengthy rains or a fresh load of mulch. These mushrooms can make pets very sick.
Although a necessity in South Mississippi, treating your yard with insecticides and other chemicals can be dangerous to pets. Dill and Stephenson agree that homeowners should follow the product’s instructions in regard
to the time your pet should avoid the area after application.
story by Alexis Williams
124 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • March 2019
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SAGO PALMS