A surprisingly large number of things can go wrong when dogs and yards meet -- for both the dogs and the yards. Dog damage in yards is palpable; What's less obvious are some of the dangers posed to dogs who spend time outdoors.
Humans and dogs alike are put in jeopardy by deer ticks. Nor is the plant world without its dangers. The examples I've used in my list of poisonous plants were chosen, in part, because they are so ubiquitous. There's a good chance you have at least one in your own yard.
Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM, About.com Guide to Veterinary Medicine, reminds us that a plant needn't be poisonous to cause problems for our pets. Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), a weedy grass found in many areas of North America, is just such a plant. Specifically, reports Janet, it is the seed pods of cheatgrass, after they have dried in late summer and early fall, that can pose a threat. "These pods have one-way microscopic barbs that allow the seed to work its way into fur, skin, and mucous membranes, but not work itself back out, much like the one-way movement of porcupine quills," as Janet explains.
Read her full article to learn more about the impact that cheatgrass can have on your pets.
View pictures: Cheatgrass
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