Watch out for Dangerous Plants to Dogs
2008-08-06

Watch out for Dangerous Plants to Dogs Attention! Harmless little house and garden plants may be a potential source of danger to your dog or puppy. Usually poisonous plants are more deadly to small puppies, but some plants, even in small amounts, can be toxic to dogs of any size. It is also no guarantee if a plant is edible by people. Many plants can be poisonous for pets, yet completely safe for humans. By taking the time to understand the various plants and their levels of toxicity for dogs and the measures you can take when facing accident you can avoid costly vet bills and even more serious conditions.

Why are the certain plants dangerous to your dog? On one hand, dogs are very inquisitive. Sniffing, smelling, and usually tasting almost anything in sight are natural behaviors for a dog. For that reason, dogs ingest items that are not their food and at times can be very dangerous poisons. On the other hand, despite being toxic, some plants taste good (for instance, the taste of a berry is no indication of its safety, as some berries can taste fine but be highly dangerous), and it will tempt dog easily, therefore, curious dogs might take a taste of any plant. Which plant is dangerous to your dog? Depending on the type of plant either the leaves, stems, bark, roots or fruit can be toxic. Some plants are only toxic at various times in their growth stage whereas others are always poisonous. Garden Plants Garden plants that can be problematic include: tomato, apricot, avocado, black Cherry, black walnuts, castor beans, catnip, chokecherry, eggplant, garlic, mushrooms, mustard plants/greens, onion, peach, plum, potato, pokeweed, spinach Fencing the garden area or monitoring if the dog is actually eating the plants within the garden is important. When in doubt completely isolating the garden from the area the dog is kept is a great idea. Ornamental Yard Plants Everyone loves to have their yard area looking great, but not at the expense of his or her animals becoming ill. The list of the most common flowering and ornamental plants that are frequently found in yards are: amaryllis, baby’s breath, bird of paradise, black eyed Susan, bleeding heart, bluebonnet, Boston Ivy, calla Lilly, chrysanthemums, cyclamen, daffodil, daisy, elephant ear, Easter Lilly, ferns, flamingo plant, geranium, honeysuckle, hyacinth, hydrangea, ivy, jade plant, lantana, larkspur, marigolds, geranium, peony, primrose, rhododendron, tiger Lily, yucca Indoor Plants Many of the houseplants including ferns, dieffenbachia, pathos, ivy, philodendron, and even poinsettias are very toxic to dogs. Corn plant, peace lilies and any of the ornamental tobacco plants can be very dangerous for both full-grown dogs and puppies. Note that this list is not complete. If you are in doubt about any plants, do research at your library, or on the Internet, consult knowledgeable friends, your vet, a plant and gardening book or if all else fails, get rid of the item. Nip in the bud In order to prevent poisoning by house plants, you should not buy and place house plants in your home that will put your dog in danger, even if you truly value a favorite plant, your dog or cat must come first. Outside, there is a constant problem of ingesting poisonous plants. Try adding bran flakes to your dog's food or switching its diet to one higher in vegetable fibers. If that helps, then perhaps the chewing of plants was due to a lack of fiber in your dog's diet. The other thing to do is to monitor your dog's 'picking' behavior when walking outside. When you see symptoms such as: vomiting, diarrhea, difficult breathing, abnormal urine (color, smell, frequency, etc.), salivation, weakness, and any other abnormal condition - take your dog to the veterinarian because it may be poisoned. As a last resort, and if surrounding your garden with a real fence is impossible, try getting an invisible fencing system that creates a barrier that your dog won't jump over or dig under. The invisible fencing system is customized to your dog, home, and property

What are the symptoms when dogs eat poisonous plant? Ingestion, inhaled or absorbed of poison plant can causes a wide range of symptoms such as: • mouth irritation • skin rash • lethargy • vomiting • diarrhea • lack of appetite • drooling • staggering • hallucination causing over-reaction to sound or light • breathing difficulty • bleeding disorders • muscle tremor and rigidity • seizure • heart failure • kidney or liver problems • Coma and death. What could you do if your dog takes poisonous plant? If you think that your dog may have consumed a poisonous or potentially poisonous plant, get them to the vet animal emergency clinic, or the poison control center, immediately. Bring a small amount of the plant with you, including the leaf and the flower, to help with identification.