Ahhhh. Spring has arrived, as well as the tender and new grass that my dogs love to eat (and then vomit up). The early bloomers are in full swing and the garden centers are stocked and full of customers.

If you have pets that don't feel the need to put everything in their mouths, good for you. Really, good for you. I am not one of those. My dogs think if it's in their house or their yard, that it was put there for them. So, I have to be very careful about what kinds of plants I bring in as the list of toxic ones, and those that just make your pet sick, is longer than you think. Any plant, or other object, that is not in a pet's normal diet can potentially make them sick. But, some plants can cause trips to the Vet. and some, trips to the ER facility with hospitalization, or worse.

The big ones are Lillies, Amaryllis, Autumn Crocus, Sago Palm, marijuana (seriously), Tulips, Narcissus bulbs, Azalea, Rhododendron, Oleander (very deadly), Castor Bean (also very bad), Cyclamen, Kalanchoe, Yew, Crysanthemum, English Ivy, Peace Lily, Pothos and Schefflera.

The ASPCA has a great list of toxic plants with pictures.... www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/

and an extensive list of the toxic plants with their various names and those that are not harmful as well... www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/plant-list-dogs.html?print=t

The two other big things realted to spring that are worth mentioning are Cocoa Mulch (bad, bad, bad--it has the same ingredient in chocolate that can be deadly) and rat poison which can also be fatal to pets and children in small amounts.

Notice to all residents of German/Merion Villages:

You may know that I work part-time at the German Village Veterinary Hospital. I've worked there for almost 12 years and I live Merion Village. Needless to say, I personally know a good portion of the 4 legged residents on the south side of the city.

One of our clients at the Vet. hospital recently found 2 rather neatly constructed portions of meat in her back yard and because of the way it was wrapped (bone with hamburger and ham around it tied with a rubberband), decided to have it analyzed. She took it to the Dept. of Agriculture and later found out it had rat poison in it. Her dogs are on medication and are okay, but I wanted to bring this story to the attention of as many people as possible in the area. This client lives in the northeast corner of German Village.

According to petcaresuite101.com and dogsymptomscure.com, here are some signs of poisoning:

-fatigue or excitement

- drooling

-muscle tremors/incoordination

- depression

- anorexia

-distended abdomen

- difficulty breathing

- pale gums or bruising of the gums/inner ears that resemble spiderwebs

- vomiting or diarrhea

- bleeding

Here is a link to the story that 10TV did...

www.10tv.com/live/content/video/10tv.html?referralObject=ka:988794

EVEN BIGGER SALE (seriously)

For a limited time, all toys, apparel and accessories are 40% off. That's right, 40% off! We really do love helping you pick out the perfect toy for your pet, so stop in and take advantage of this fantastic deal. Plus, spring is a great time for a new collar and leash right? We have some very cool harnesses from Doggles that are made out of recycled bottles and come with a car seatbelt attachment too. We also have a few coats and sweatshirts left and those are 50% off while they last.