There are many plants that are poisonous for dogs and many of them are commonly grown right in our homes, or outdoor vegetable and flower gardens. Fortunately, many of them aren’t palatable to our unsuspecting pooches so they tend to leave them alone. However, knowing which plants you should steer your dog clear of can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. As we know, a playful, mischievous puppy or a bored dog can tend to get into just about anything, so being educated on which plants are poisonous for your dog can be extremely beneficial.
The below list is not all inclusive, but are some of the most common plants that I’m betting most dog owners are completely unaware contain toxic elements. Have a look and see if YOU have any of these in your home or garden.
Top 20 List – Common Household and Garden Plants that are Poisonous for Dogs
Aloe vera – signs/symptoms: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, anorexia, tremors, change in urine color
Azalea – signs/symptoms: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, anorexia, tremors, change in urine color
Baby’s Breath – signs/symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea
Begonia – signs/symptoms: Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
Black Walnut – signs/symptoms: Walnuts can grow mold after falling from the tree that can cause tremors and seizures.
Burning Bush – signs/symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain weakness. Heart rhythm abnormalities with large doses.
California Ivy – signs/symptoms: Vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, diarrhea
Carnation – signs/symptoms: Mild gastrointestinal signs, mild dermatitis
Chives – signs/symptoms: Vomiting, breakdown of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia, Heinz body anemia), blood in uring, weakness, high heart rate, panting
Chrysanthemum aka mums – signs/symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, incoordination, dermatitis
Daffodil – signs/symptoms: Vomiting, salivation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias. Bulbs are the most poisonous part.
Eucalyptus – signs/symptoms: Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, weakness
Geranium – signs/symptoms: Vomiting, anorexia, depression, dermatitis
Giant Dumb Cane, aka Dieffenbachia amoena – signs/symptoms: Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
Hibiscus – signs/symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, anorexia
Iris – signs/symptoms: Salivation, vomiting, drooling, lethargy, diarrhea. Highest concentration in rhizomes (underground stem).
Mint/Garden Mint – signs/symptoms: Vomiting and diarrhea, Pennyroyal can cause liver failure.
Rhododendron – signs/symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, weakness, coma, hypotension, CNS depressio, cardiovascular collapse and death. Only a few leaves would need to be ingested in order to cause serious problems.
Tulip – signs/symptoms: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, hypersalivation. The highest concentration of toxins are in the bulbs.
Yucca – signs/symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea
(signs/symptoms are per The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
If you suspect your dog has ingested any of these plants, please call your veterinarian or emergency animal clinic as soon as possible. Many areas have 24 hour emergency clinics and it is always a good idea to keep this number handy.
If you have trouble reaching professional help locally, contact the Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.