Pets

Cut flowers look beautiful in your home but are they safe for your pet?

Words by Suzanne Kennedy

A LOT of pet lovers will have heard about the hazards some of our garden plants can pose to our furry friends. Daffodil, hyacinth and tulip bulbs are known to cause trouble in both dogs and cats.

But danger does not stop at the garden gate: When ingested by your pet, cut flowers in your home can be a source of discomfort and pain, too.

Chewing leaves and petals, or even just drinking the water from a vase containing poisonous flowers can result in very serious medical issues for our feline and canine companions.

Among the most common cut flowers poisonous for pets are some of our all-time favourites at Milston Flower Barn: Chrysanthemums; Hydrangeas; Tulips; Sweet Peas; Carnations; Foxgloves; Iris; Dahlias; Lily of the Valley and Daffodils, to name just a few.

Lilies, as many cat lovers will know, are particularly dangerous, as all parts of the plants are deadly to our feline friends – the petals, pollen, leaves, and even the water in vases that hold cut stems. Cats who eat lilies need immediate veterinary care!

If your pet is known to be a bit of a grazer, or just a curious youngster, it is best to avoid bouquets containing poisonous stems (ask your florist). If given a bouquet with troublesome flowers as a gift, make sure they are placed where your furry family members can’t reach, or best, donate the flowers to a pet-free home.

The safest way to prevent poisoning in your pets is to stay clear of poisonous flowers in your home and avoid planting them in your garden.

How do you spot early signs of poisoning?

Plants that are considered hazardous for domestic animals can cause a range of symptoms, some more severe than others. Most common signs that your dog has eaten a dangerous plant (apart from the remnants of the plant) include vomiting, diarrhoea, extreme salivation, lethargy and twitching. If you are concerned that your pet has ingested a poisonous plant or flower, or they are showing symptoms of poisoning, contact your veterinarian immediately.

As wedding florists, we are regularly asked to provide bouquets for little flower girls, throwing petals, cake flowers or even floral dog collars. Knowing about potential toxins in our arrangements is key to the safety of our customers.

At Milston Flower Barn we care about the world we live in. In all our different floristry workshops we raise awareness about the origin of plants, toxicity and their ecological impact. Learn more about flowers and plants safe for cats and dogs at www.rspca.or.uk or www. bluecross.org.uk. For current workshop dates and personalised classes: www. milstonflowerbar.co.uk

Keeping your guinea pigs warm during winter weather

IF YOU keep guinea pigs outdoors you will want to esnure you do everything you can to keep them warm during the winter weather, especially when night falls.

We’ve rounded up some top tips and advice to help keep your little ones safe and warm.

First, if you can, bring them indoors. If you can’t have them in the house, a porch, garage, shed or conservatory will help to keep the worse of the elements away from their hutch.

Don’t keep their hutch in a garage that is used to store a car as the fumes can be fatal.

If you are wondering how cold is too cold for guinea pigs, they prefer temperatures that humans tend to feel comfortable in. If you feel the chill, then so will your guinea pigs.

You want to weather proof the hutch as much as you can. If indoors isn’t an option, then is there a place that provides shelter from rain, snow and wind chill.

A rain cover will also provide some comfort from the winter elements.Under the cover and over the hutch, an old blanket or piece of tarpualin will hep to keep some of the cold out and heat in.

Inside, a hideaway that has only one entrance will help to reduce the amount of draughts getting in, while retaining heat generated by the guinea pigs and other sources.

If you can, try and attach foil bubble wrap to the inside of the hutch. Again, this will hep to retain warmth. Cardboard is another good insulator and makes a good liner. Always ensure that there is good air flow for the guinea pigs.

Provide extra bedding hay for them to snuggle into, keep it fresh and clean and make sure it is regulalry topped up.

This can be combined with a heat pad that is specially designed for small animals.

Keep an eye on water bottles as they are likely to freeze. Either wrap them in insulating material or by unblocking any ice that has formed each day.

Guinea pigs still need to exercise during the winter months so ensure they have access to an outdoor run. However, avoid putting them on damp grass as they will get cold very quickly.

Could you give a forever home to one of these potential best friends?

DAISY Breed: French Bulldog Age: 8+ Sex: Female

Daisy is a sweet little lady, almost nine years old and is looking for companionship in a loving, relaxing home.

She struggles when left alone so would love her new family to be around most of the day to help her settle.

Daisy could live with another calm dog of a similar size after successful introductions at the centre, she has also previously lived with a cat and hamster and could do so again.

She would prefer a home with calm, sensible children aged 12 and above and is deaf and has struggled with housetraining so would benefit from patient owners who can work through this with her. For this reason Daisy will also need her own, secure garden.

BOOGIE Breed: Beagle Age: 8+ Sex: Male

Boogie loves food a little too much and often becomes uncomfortable at the possibility of sharing, so it is advised any new home isn’t open plan and he can have a room such as a utility of his own for mealtimes.

Typical of his breed he is quite the scavenger! Boogie is happy to have dog friends out on walks but would ideally be the only animal in the home so he can have all the attention.

He would love his own garden so he can continue his hobby of sunbathing, but he would prefer a quieter set up so would be better suited to an adult-only home.

For more details about all of the dogs featured, log on to www.dogstrust.org.uk, or contact the Salisbury Dogs Trust centre on 0303 003 0000

BUFFI Breed: German Shepherd cross Age: 8+ Sex: Female

Beautiful Buffi is a sweet older lady who is looking for a calm and quiet adult only home. She’s an anxious girl who can find things quite overwhelming but once she’s built a bond, she’s a loyal companion who loves to be with people.

She struggles being left so would love her new owners to be around for company and cuddles.

She is sound sensitive so a quiet home environment away from lots of hustle and bustle would be ideal. She could potentially live with another dog pending successful mixes at the centre.

ARCHIE Breed: Crossbreed Age: Two Sex: Male

Archie is looking for an experienced adult-only home, with owners who are used to a sensitive dog and has the time to give him the chance to turn into the most amazing dog.

He could share his new home with a confident calm dog, that does enjoy playing, after successful meets. Archie has shown previous guarding behaviours so is not suitable to be around children, but is having training to help him feel more relaxed around resources and reduce the fear of them being taken away.

PARTI TOY POODLE PUPPIES Boys & Girls available, Mum & Dad can be seen Please call: 07503 905659

COLLIE X LURCHER PUPS Mum and dad can be seen both have beautiful temperaments Will make great agility dogs 5 boys £500 - 1 girl £550 07871 573745

PEDIGREE BRITISH SHORTHAIR KITTENS Ready to leave. Vaccinated, vet checked, insured, microchipped. Chocolate bi, tortoiseshell,cream £750 07759 297655

MUCKY PUPS DOG GROOMER Friars Moor Sturminster Newton Contact Gloria 07784 332682 muckypupsfrance@yahoo.com http://muckypups-bee-online.com 15 years experience in dog grooming

ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL PUPS. Liver and White. 4 bitches and 4 dogs. Kennel club reg. Legal doc with certificate. First vaccination and micro-chipped. Ready after 24/11/22. 3 generation pedigree. Would make good workers or family pets. Further details and pictures 07932 061202. Westbury, Wiltshire. £850

Companions at Peace Pet Cremation

Independent family run business offering a very personal, caring pet cremation service to bereaved pet owners. Collection Service Farewell Room Out of Hours Service provided Located in a rural countryside setting on the Somerset Dorset border Contact us on: 07900 654 440 www.companionsatpeace.co.uk