Plants can poison your dog.
There are lots of ways dogs can get into poisons. One often overlooked problem is poisonous plants. Some of the ornamentals that gardeners most enjoy in our area are very poisonous. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has a very good list of poisonous plants on their website. If you suspect your dog has eaten a poisonous plant, call your veterinarian. If that is not possible, there is a Pet Poison Helpline available at (800) 213-6680. They do charge $35 an incident, so have a credit card ready. Now, on to the poisonous plants.
According to the Pet Poison Helpline, these are the top ten poisonous plants.
- · Autumn Crocus
- · Azalea
- · Cyclamen
- · Kalanchoe
- · Lily
- · Oleander
- · Dieffenbachia
- · Daffodils
- · Lily of the Valley
- · Sago Palm
- · Tulips and Hyacinths
Capri23auto / Pixabay
More poisonous plants.
There are other plants that are poisonous. In Dallas, morning glories are a popular landscaping plant. Those are poisonous, as are foxglove, holly, and hydrangea. Before you plant something new, it is a good idea to check the list of poisonous plants on the ASPCA website.
Specific symptoms of poisoning vary with the plant. Drooling, vomiting, and/or diarrhea are the most common symptoms, but cardiac arrhythmias, coma, and death are also possible. Some plants cause seizures, as well. If you suspect your pet has eaten something poisonous, or you actually see the dog doing that, try to grab a piece of the plant, then call your veterinarian. Describe the plant and the symptoms to the veterinarian. Do not immediately induce vomiting unless the veterinarian tells you to. Some things do more harm coming up than passing through.
No Dog poisoning plants.
Hopefully, you will never have to deal with a poisoning incident. However, it is a good idea to be prepared. Make sure your veterinarian’s number, the number of an emergency clinic, and the Pet Poison Helpline number are written down and placed by each phone in the house. Do your best to landscape with nontoxic plants. If you have toxic houseplants, make sure they are out of your dog’s reach. These things will help you prevent poisonings in your household.
For more help gardening, buy my book, Preparing A Vegetable Garden From The Ground Up
Available in print or ebook from Amazon.com or other retailers, this book walks you from choosing the site of your garden all the way through what to do after the harvest. Buy a copy for yourself or a friend today!
