Daffodils and Hyacinths could poison your pet

Autumn is when many enthusiastic gardeners start to think about spring bulbs, but some of these bulbs could be dangerous for your pets.

We all love to see those first signs of spring when masses of golden yellow daffodils and other spring bulbs start to flower. September to October is the time of year that enthusiastic gardeners start to prepare for spring by planting out spring bulbs such as Narcissus (daffodils) and Hyacinthus (hyacinths).

However, if you also have pets you should be careful about the safe storage of these bulbs and make sure that your pet is not behind you digging the bulbs up once you have planted them! Bulbs such as these contain chemicals (calcium oxalate and other potentially toxic compounds) which are harmful to pets if they are ingested.

The signs of poisoning following eating such bulbs include vomiting, diarrhoea and in some rare cases even death. If you suspect that your pet may have eaten the bulbs of daffodils or hyacinths then you should contact your vet immediately. Always store such bulbs in "pet proof" containers and take care when planting them out. Do not "play ball" with plant bulbs even though dogs often think it is great fun!