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.