With spring upon us and the gorgeous weather we’ve all been longing for, many of you are in the full swing of yard and garden work.

For pet owners, it is also a good time to do a little checking around the house and yard to ensure that your pets will be safe. The yard during this time of year can be deadly if pet owners are not careful.

Some of the more common hazards are the garden and yard applications ranging from insecticides to fertilizers. Obviously, veterinarians and lawn maintenance advisers are recommending that pet owners treat their yards for all kinds of pests, including those that are a nuisance to pets, such as fleas and ticks, and those that are bad for your yards, such as mole crickets.

Whether you apply these chemicals to your yard or have a professional do it for you, it is imperative that label instructions be followed regarding safety measures for you and your pets. Only apply these products in the amounts suggested, and be sure to follow the time frames regarding when it is safe for pets to return to the yard after application.

I highly recommend alternating the areas that you treat in your yard so that at any one time your pets will have a safe “potty place.” It is much better to be safe than sorry.

Follow instructions

Remember that your pets can be endangered with yard chemicals of any kind, not only through oral ingestion, but also through skin contact. So, always follow label instructions. Be sure to store these products out of reach when not in use.

Other commonly used products in the yard include baits aimed at everything from snails and slugs to moles and gophers. These are all potentially fatal if ingested by a pet. Extreme caution and, better yet, avoidance is advised. If you think your pet has possibly ingested any of these types of products, seek veterinary attention immediately and bring along labels from the product in question.

An area which many pet owners may fail to realize can hold danger for their pets is the type of plants in the yard and around the house. This is especially important to review if you have a new puppy or kitten that may not have been around for last year’s planting season. It is highly recommended that you choose plants that are nontoxic through either direct contact or consumption.

Obviously, some pets who are older and not in the eat-everything-in-sight stage, may allow more flexibility, but always inquire if a plant is toxic when making any additions. If you have questions, your veterinarian can assist you to avoid problems. For example, azalea, calla lily, dumb cane and oleander are plants to avoid or use with caution. Again, a lot depends on the pet’s personality, and the amount your pet likes to chew on things that can aid you in the decision process.

Lawn-equipment safety

Finally, while working in the yard on these beautiful spring days, it is a great time to spend quality time with your pets outside soaking up the sun. However, always make sure that your pets are kept far from any type of lawn equipment. Not only can lawnmowers and weed eaters throw debris into your eyes (which is why you should wear protective eye gear), but they also can seriously injure your pet. This is especially true for those pets who, like one of mine, like to go into attack mode over anything from a vacuum cleaner to a lawn mower.

It is best to keep pets indoors or in a pen/outdoor enclosure far away from the activity. By following a few common-sense guidelines, you and your pets can enjoy the glorious spring weather safely.

One last note: Make sure you use your heartworm and flea/tick preventives monthly on your pets so they don’t ever have to suffer the consequences of flea/tick infestation or heartworm disease.

– Dr. Tracy Acosta is a veterinarian at Biloxi Animal Hospital in Biloxi, Miss.