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Questions
- Plant Dangers for Dogs
- What are the Top 10 Poisonous Plants for Dogs?
- What Flowers Are Poisonous to Dogs?
- Garden Plants Toxic For Dogs
- House Plants Toxic to Dogs
- What To Do If You Think Your Dog Has Eaten a Poisonous Plant
Did you know that common garden and house plants, and even some cut flowers, can be highly toxic to your dog? There are many poisonous plants for dogs that cause illness, ranging from mild irritation to severe and fatal poisoning. Before you purchase your next blossoming plant to adore, make sure your home and garden are pet-safe with our handy guide to common toxic plants your dog should avoid.
Plant Dangers for Dogs
Our pups are playful and ever inquisitive, exploring the world with their mouths, but this curious behaviour can sometimes get them into trouble! Puppies and some breeds (looking at you, Labradors) will attempt to eat almost anything, especially novel items such as your new houseplant, or seedlings ready for planting. As a pet parent, it is important to be able to identify what plants and flowers are poisonous to dogs to help keep your pup safe.
What are the Top 10 Poisonous Plants for Dogs?
These plants are highly toxic and can be fatal. If they are currently planted in your garden it is recommended, they be safely removed.
Oleander
Autumn crocus
Giant hogweed
Foxgloves
Azaleas
Yew
Cyclamen
Castor Oil Plant
Sago palm
Tulips
If you are concerned that your dog has ingested any part of these plants, go to your veterinarian immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to appear.
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What Flowers Are Poisonous to Dogs?
Flowers are a wonderful gift and help brighten up the home. Many of our favourite varieties can be toxic for your dog including:
Bulb varieties: daffodil, hyacinth, spring crocus, tulip
Peonies
Geranium
Iris
Amaryllis
Ragwort
Bulb varieties are widely popular and pose a danger when they bloom, as well as during planting. All parts of the plant are dangerous with the bulbs containing the highest concentration of toxins.
Ingestion of the bulb can cause rapid poisoning and poses a risk for intestinal obstruction if swallowed. Although considered a weed, ragwort produces beautiful yellow flowers during spring and is commonly encountered on walks. Ragwort should be avoided as it can cause liver and kidney failure if eaten.
Never fear, you can still brighten up your home with a variety of pet-safe flowers including fuchsia, roses, sunflowers, freesias, and pansies.
Garden Plants Toxic For Dogs
For those with a green thumb, it is easy to get excited when planting season arrives, however, many popular garden plants can be dangerous for your dog. Commonly planted toxic food varieties include rhubarb, onions, garlic, and unripe tomatoes. Be cautious with fruiting or seeding trees including avocado, stone fruit, grapes, oak, and horse chestnut. Not only is the fruit toxic but seeds and pits can pose obstruction risks to your pup.
Other available garden plants to avoid include Lily of the Valley, monkshood, oleander, and Yukka as these can cause irritation towards your pup or much more serious if a large amount if consumed.
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House Plants Toxic to Dogs
House plants are a great way to bring the feeling of nature inside. Common house plants that are poisonous to dogs include:
Aloe vera
Jade
ZZ plant
Elephant ear
Philodendron
Devils Ivy
Dumb Cane
Poinsettia
Mistletoe
Snake plants
Luckily there are lots of lovely houseplants that are pup-friendly, so you can still create a green space that everyone can enjoy. Some good non-toxic options include calathea, parlour palm, Chinese money plant, stromanthe, and spider plants.
Are Rubber Plants Toxic to Dogs?
Rubber tree plants (Ficus spp.) are robust and easy to care for and are popular as indoor plants. Unfortunately, they are also toxic to our canine friends. Oral and gastrointestinal irritation as well as vomiting and diarrhoea can occur if your dog consumes this plant, so it is best to avoid it.
Plastic or artificial plants make good pet-friendly alternatives, but care needs to be taken if a puppy lives in the house! Pups love to chew, and the components of a plastic plant can become lodged in the gut if swallowed, leading to life-threatening obstruction. Ensure any artificial plants are kept out of reach if your dog has a penchant for plastic. Instead, introduce new puppy toys for them to bust away their boredom or chewing toys to help relieve their impulse.
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What To Do If You Think Your Dog Has Eaten a Poisonous Plant
It's a common scene for pet parents, to walk in the door after a long day and see pot plants overturned and dirt strewn across the floor. Apart from the inevitable clean-up, the question is, should you worry?
The first thing to do is check your dog over, are they behaving normally? Monitor them closely and watch out for strange behaviour, persistent drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea, changes in bark, difficulty swallowing, or inappetence as these are signs your dog needs to be checked over by your vet.
The next step is to identify the plant they have eaten. If you are unsure what type of plant you have retrieved from your retriever, contact your local clinic or a poisons hotline for advice.
Take a picture of the plant or keep a cutting for identification as this will help your vet with identification.
In all potential toxicity cases, early treatment is crucial. Remember, if your dog has ingested any of the Top 10 poisonous plants, head to your veterinarian immediately. Do not delay.
End
There are many houseplants, garden plants, shrubs, and cut flowers that can be potentially toxic to your dog. Ingestion of these plants can lead to mild irritations, serious diseases, or fatalities. You should seek veterinary attention immediately if you suspect your pup has eaten a plant toxic to dogs. Ensure your garden and house remain pet safe by choosing non-toxic alternatives where possible, so you and your favourite pup can enjoy the garden, worry-free.
For more stress-free fun, discover our wider dog and puppy range for everything you may need, in-store and online.