Finally! Spring is here!

It's been a long winter. It seemed like the snow would never stop. But, finally, it seems to be getting warmer. That means that you and your dog are going to be outside a lot more. So, here are some things to consider.

There are a lot of poisonous plants out there. Things like azaleas and rhododendrons can be harmful if ingested by your dog. English ivy and yews are two other plants that are dangerous. The ASPCA has a great list of toxic plants. If you look around your yard, you'll probably find more than a few.

We want our lawns to look great, so we feed them so that they grow nice and lush. And then we mow them and complain because we have such lush lawns. Fertilizers can be very toxic. Read the ingredients and make sure they're safe for your four legged friend. Mulches can also be dangerous. Especially coco bean mulch. Check with your landscape expert to find the best mulch type for you and your dog.

Since you have such a great looking lawn, you'll be attracting a lot of wildlife. With wildlife, such as deer, rabbits, groundhogs and skunks, come with myriad other issues to worry about. Be aware of what is outside when you take your pup out for his evening constitutional. Thirty seconds of scouting out the yard is better than 3 hours of trying to de-skunk your dog. 

Being aware of the dangers lurking in your yard is important. With a few preemptive steps, you can prevent a trip to the emergency room, or worse.