Pet
owners need to be aware that some common garden plants and flowers
could be toxic to their pets, causing sickness and diarrhoea with
severe cases of poisoning leading to coma and death.
Pets can be poisoned by plants if they eat or even just chew part
of the plant, the flower, the bulb or the plant leaves. Flowers
heavy in pollen can also drop pollen onto the pet’s coat,
which could then be licked off and ingested by your pet.
If you are unsure about the toxicity of plants and flowers in your
garden, talk to your garden centre and consult relevant specialist
publications and web pages. See our ‘Comprehensive Lists of
Plants Toxic to Dogs’ section below to read some very comprehensive
research that has taken place into plants that are poisonous to
pets.
However, directly below we have attempted to give a basic guide
to some of the more common plants and flowers that can be toxic
to dogs.
The
PDSA produced the following list
Daffodil (especially the bulbs)
Castor oil bush (dogs love the seeds)
Cherry laurel (common hedging plant)
Laburnum (and related species)
Lilies / Lily of the Valley (especially toxic to cats)
Philodendron (popular ornamental house plant)
Other common plants and flowers worth mentioning
Azalea
Foxgloves
Ivy (some species)
Rhubarb
Yew |
|
Comprehensive
Lists of Plants Toxic to Dogs
1) Cornell
University Poisonous Plants Informational Database
Created by professors, staff, graduate and undergraduate students
at Cornell University. You can search their pages by the plants'
common name or scientific name, or even by plant category.
2) University
of Pennsylvania's Poisonous Plants
3) Animal
Poison Control Center (ASPCA) has a very informative list of
toxic plants. Click on a plant name for more information, likely
effects and even a helpful picture of the plant.
General symptoms of poisoning
Oral or skin irritation
Upset stomach / Vomiting / Diarrhoea
Weakness
Rapid breathing
Fever
Drooling
Coma
Heart failure
Depression
Excitability or lethargy
Tremors / Seizures / Fitting
Increased Thirst
Dilated Pupils
Dizziness / Loss of Balance
Disorientation
Contact your vet immediately if you think your pet has eaten any
toxic plants, flowers, or in fact any toxic items or substances.
Cocoa Mulch, Pesticides and Pellets
Please also note that using cocoa mulch on your flower beds is not
advised as it is potentially lethal to dogs. There may or may not
be a warning on the products packaging, so beware. Pet owners also
need to take care when using pellets, pesticides and other garden
chemicals. Before purchasing any chemicals for your garden and plants,
read the labels carefully to make sure they are safe for pets. Better
still, why not research more organic, friendly methods of pest control.
See our Get Set for Summer article,
for more information on garden and summer hazards.
Disclaimer: D for Dog assumes no liability for
the content of this article or the given lists. The lists may not
represent all flowers and plants poisonous to dogs. Please also
note that your dog may have a sensitivity or allergy to a plant
or flower that is not mentioned on the lists. |
