The author of the text is Dr inż. Radosław Kożuszek
Bad weather and long evenings make cats and dogs bored in the apartment in winter. Dog owners are less willing and less likely to walk with them in the backyard garden or neighborhood parks.And cats and dogs, especially young ones, are ubiquitous, curious and in need of entertainment.They treat the whole apartment as their territory and know all its nooks and crannies.
Each new object that comes into our pet's surroundings is sniffed and sometimes even bitten. However, not everything can be tried by our pet. Curiosity about the environment is a long-established trait that worked well in the wild ancestors of cats and dogs.
There, the knowledge of the environment was necessary to survive, but curiosity does not disappear in the house, where many dangers await the unconscious animalParticularly dangerous are home ornamental plants, which despite their beauty they often hide poison in their colorful flowers and lush green leaves, which can prove fatal for a cat or a dog.
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(zdj .: Fotolia.com) |
protect plants, protect the animal
Both cats and dogs are carnivores, but for better digestion and freeing themselves from certain toxins or hair, they tend to chew the leaves of green plants. Fortunately, there are proven methods to protect both valuable plants and even more valuable he alth of your pet.In the case of dogs, the matter is much easier, because it is enough to place all ornamental plants higher, beyond the reach of their teeth.If you have a cat, especially a young one, you have to remember that there are no places for him in our apartment inaccessible - maybe only except for suspended pots.
Therefore, we should meet the animal's nutritional needs in terms of plants, and provide it with fresh grass every day. However, if the cat still nibbles the potted plants, sprinkle them as soon as possible with a mixture of water with the addition of freshly ground (very finely) pepper, hot chili pepper or ginger.
It is worth knowing that in garden and pet stores there are substances that repel cats, which can be perfect as "bodyguards" of ornamental plants.Withcatnip extract or rubbing it with fresh leaves in a container with grass intended for a cat will distract the animal from dangerous places.
Poisonous plants around us
Beautiful and so poisonous
We should assume that all ornamental plants that we do not eat are dangerous to our pet. Eating even a small piece can end up seriously poisoning. Some of the plants cause vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions. Others, on the other hand, can even lead to the death of the animal.
During Christmas, poinsettias, or the popular Bethlehem stars, appear in many homes.All parts of the plant are very poisonous, and eating even a small part of it leads to severe irritation of the mucous membranes, diarrhea and vomiting.In this case, we should quickly go to the vet who will probably cause the animal vomiting, rehydrate with a drip, give painkillers and possibly steroids.
A very popular pteroflower has poisonous leaves, shoots, flowers and rhizomes. The eaten plant causes stomach irritation, vomiting, depression, lack of appetite, ultimately leading to death. Diffenbachia, known for its poisonous properties, is also found in many homes. All parts of this plant are poisonous, and after eating it, you can notice irritation and swelling of the mouth and throat, drooling and difficulty breathing.
Sanseweria, returning to favor after years of oblivion, has poisonous juicy leaves, the consumption of which causes mouth and stomach irritation, vomiting and diarrhea.At one time, the fashionable monstera and philodendron can cause irritation in the animal's mouth and throat, Drooling and gastric irritation.Rhododendrons and azaleas, which bloom in pots, quite often appear on tables and balconies are also very dangerous.
Garden for pets
If you have a dog or a cat, it is good to create a green field for him, from which he will be able to eat safe plants without fear.In the case of a dog, it is not necessary, as it should be taken out at least twice a day.It is best to sow fast-growing species of grass, a compound that is resistant to trampling, as well as grain grasses (wheat, oats).To set up a cat's or dog's garden, let's buy a flat container with holes at the bottom.
Such a vessel is filled with clean and compacted potting soil, and then we sow the seeds.It is a good idea to cover the grass seeds with a thin layer of sand and then sprinkle them into the water.Grass grows best in a sunny place, so the southern or eastern window sill will be perfect. Quickly sprouting plants should be watered very often with the aforementioned sprinkler.
Of course, we make grass available to pets only when it begins to spread and reaches at least 5 cm in height.A good solution is also sowing grass in an empty cage intended for the hamster (remember about the holes at the bottom of the cage).
When the grass is the right height, remove the upper, mesh part of the hamster place. It is also worth remembering that in larger pet stores we can buy ready-made trays with a few centimeters of cat grass.
Symptoms of poisoning appear as early as 20 minutes after eating even a small fragment of a leaf or a stem. The animal suffers from abdominal pain, muscle tremors, depression of the central nervous system, heart and respiratory disorders.A vet can help your pet by making him vomit or by rinsing his stomach with heavy drip irrigation and administering heart medications.
Poisonous is also the beautiful croton whose bark, roots and resin cause burning in the mouth and eyes, lacrimation, rash and diarrhea.The popular and kind-looking Kalanchoe has, unfortunately, poisonous leaves and shoots, after which the cat or dog has difficulty breathing, convulsions, and may even become paralyzed. Unfortunately, the list of poisonous plants is very long, including cut flowers. Let's remember one rule - do not let our pets eat plants that we do not eat ourselves. Except for the grass, of course.
