Plants Poisonous to Dogs

If you are a dog owner, it is important that you know and be able to recognize the plants that are poisonous to your pet. Please note that this list is not a complete list of plants poisonous to dogs. However, these plants may commonly be seen in homes or outside in your neighborhood while you walk your dog.

Aloe: Aloe plants can be found in many households today as aloe has great healing and soothing properties for human injuries, such as burns. However, aloe is poisonous to dogs. Thus, if you have an aloe plant in your home, keep it somewhere where your dog will not be able to eat it. Perhaps you can keep your aloe plant in a high place where most dogs won't be able to eat it. If your dog ingests aloe, he or she may display the following signs: tremors, loss of appetite, vomiting, a change in the color of his or her urine, depression, and/or diarrhea.

Amaryllis: Amaryllis is another plant unsafe for dogs. Amaryllis goes by many other names, including Naked Lady, Belladonna Lily, Cape Belladonna, and Saint Joseph Lily, If your pet ingests this plant, he or she may exhibit a lack of appetite, vomiting, tremors, diarrhea, excessive salivation, depression, and/or abdominal pain.

Baby's Breath: Baby's Breath, also called Maidens Breath, is a flower often used in flower bouquets and in hair pieces for women in wedding parties. If your dog has ingested Baby's Breath, he or she may exhibit diarrhea and/or vomiting.

Poinsettia: Poinsettias are another plant poisonous to dogs. This plant is commonly seen during the Christmas holiday season. If your dog swallows any part of this plant, he or she may experience vomiting and/or excessive salivation. Additionally, the sap of the poinsettia irritates the dog's body, so you may also notice your pet pawing at his or her mouth or head and/or shaking his or her head.

Call Lily: Calla Lily goes by many other names including: Pig Lily, Florist's Calla, Arum Lily, White Arum, Garden Calla, and Trumpet Lily. Burring or irritation of the mouth, difficulty swallowing, irritation or burning of the lips and tongue, vomiting, and excessive drooling may occur if your pet ingests this plant.

Chrysanthemum: Chrysanthemums are another plant dangerous to dogs. Signs of ingestion include: dermatitis (skin irritation), excessive salivation, vomiting, a lack of coordination, and diarrhea.

Daffodils: According to Cyber Canine, the bulbs of Daffodils are also poisonous to your pet. Daffodils, also known as Pepper Whites, Narcissus, and Jonquil, may cause clinical symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and salivation. However, if a large amount of daffodils are ingested, more serious problems may occur, such as heart irregularities, tremors, convulsions, and low blood pressure.

Mistletoe: Mistletoe is a decorative plant often seen during the Christmas season. According to Suite 101, mistletoe contains pharatoxin and albumin, which are poisonous for dogs. If Mistletoe is eaten by your dog, he or she may experience trouble breathing, vomiting, cardiovascular collapse, stomach discomfort, and/or disorientation.

Dieffenbachia: Dieffenbachia contains proteolytic enzymes and insoluble calcium oxalates, which are toxic to dogs. If your pet ingests this plant, he or she may exhibit trouble swallowing, vomiting, irritation or burning of the tongue and lips, and/or excessive drooling.

Elephant's Ear: Elephant's Ear, also known as Ape, Taro, Via, Malanga, Cape, Pai, and Via Sori, contains calcium oxalate crystals, which are toxic to dogs. Burring and irritation of the tongue, lips, and mouth, vomiting, trouble swallowing, and excessive drooling are signs that your pet has ingested Elephant's Ears.

Geranium: Geraniums are popular flowers to plant in flower gardens or in the yard. However, geraniums possess linalool and geranial, which are poisonous for pets. If ingested, your dog may exhibit vomiting, dermatitis (skin irritation), lack of appetite, and/or depression.

Holly: Holly is another plant commonly seen during the Christmas season, which is also toxic to dogs. Depression, vomiting, and diarrhea may occur in pets who ingest this holiday plant.

Lily of the Valley: Another common garden plant is Lily of the Valley, which is also toxic to pets. Lily of the Valley possesses cardenolides, which if ingested may cause the following symptoms: seizures, vomiting, low blood pressure, coma, disorientation, and heartbeat irregularities.

Morning Glory: Morning Glory is another common flower to plant in gardens or in the yard, but it is also poisonous to pets. Morning Glories can lead to a wide variety of symptoms if your dog ingests this flower including: diarrhea, lack of coordination of muscle movements, tremors, lack of appetite, upset stomach, agitation, and disorientation. In addition, Morning Glory seeds may cause hallucinations.

Oleander: Oleander is a small tree or shrub that generally grows in California and in the southern part of the United States. If your dog chews on a fallen branch, he or she may exhibit several symptoms: sweating, diarrhea that may be bloody in nature, trouble breathing, shallow breathing, a lack of coordination, recumbency, colic, muscle tremors, and cardiac failure that may lead to death. Oleander is a particularly poisonous plant to pets, so keep your eyes open for it as you take your dog out for walks.

Tulips: According to the Earth Clinic, the bulbs of tulips are toxic to dogs. If a dog ingests a tulip bulb, he or she may experience stomach upset, excessive drooling, convulsions, depression of the central nervous system, and heart problems.

Rhododendron: Rhododendron, also called Azalea and Rosebay, is extremely dangerous to pets. A wide variety of symptoms may present in a pet who has ingested rhododendron including: vomiting, depression of the central nervous system, weakness, hypotension (low blood pressure), excessive salivation, diarrhea, heart failure, and death. Ingestion of rhododendron may also cause frequent bowel movements, weak heart rate, leg paralysis, a lack of coordination, colic, coma, depression, and stupor. Eating just a few leaves may lead to symptoms, and they typically appear within a few hours after ingestion occurs, according to the ASPCA.

Castor Bean: Castor Bean is another very dangerous plant to pets. If ingested it may cause mild or severe symptoms. If your dog ingests castor bean, he or she may experience drooling, loss of appetite, vomiting, weakness, diarrhea, and an increase in thirst. However, more severe cases of poisoning may lead to coma, seizures, tremors, twitching muscles, dehydration, and even death.

Yew: Yew is another plant that is toxic to dogs. Like castor bean and rhododendron, yew is very dangerous if ingested by your pet. Yew contains taxine, which may cause early warning signs, such as difficulty breathing, seizures, and muscle tremors. It may also cause sudden cardiac failure, which could lead to death.

There are many plants that are poisonous to dogs. Please remember that this is not a complete list of toxic plants. If you suspect your dog has ingested a toxic plant and/or experiences symptoms discussed above, please call your veterinarian, your local vet hospital, your local vet emergency room, or the ASPCA's Poison Control Center. ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center may be reached 24 hours a day by calling: 1-888-426-4435. If you notice your dog is exhibiting severe symptoms of possible plant poisoning, please take him or her to your local animal hospital or vet emergency room.

Sources:

Suite 101: Christmas Plants Toxic to Pets:
http://petcare.suite101.com/article.cfm/christmas_plants_toxic_to_pets

Cyber Canine: Toxic Plants for Dogs:
http://www.cybercanine.com/toxicplants.htm

Suite 101: Poisonous Houseplants:
http://houseplants.suite101.com/article.cfm/poisonous_houseplants

Earth Clinic: List of Poisonous Plants for Cats and Dogs:
http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/poisonous_plants.html

ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants:
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/index.jsp?page=1