Poisonous Plants To Your Pooch

 

 


This is a partial list of poisonous indoor and outdoor plants that may be lurking in your home or yard and harmful to your pooch. As pretty as they may be, you should be on the alert....

One of the first things a dog owner should look at is just how high of a risk these plants are to your dog. Consider your dog's age. Is he a puppy or full grown adult? Many, if not most, puppies make their way through the world by exploring and investigating everything orally. In other words, they love to chew, chew, chew! Most puppies grow out of this stage as they mature and stop teething. When they are outside, watch carefully to see if they are drawn to sticks, flowers, or tree leaves.

Another risk factor is your dog's penchant for plant chewing. Some dogs are just naturally drawn to plant leaves and flowers, regardless of their age, while others virtually ignore them. You know your dog best - you are the best judge of potential chewing problems. Many toxic plants rarely pose a threat because the majority of dogs just don't chew on them. They don't typically find these plants tempting or agreeable, and so avoid eating them, even if they are commonly found in their environment. So the age and tendencies of your dog play a great role in their safety.

Keep in mind also that dogs will have varying reactions to different plants, trees, and shrubs. Some will cause only a mild rash or itchiness, while contact with others result in more severe irritations such as facial and throat pain and swelling. This can turn fatal if the airway becomes blocked. Still other plants (though not as common) are extremely toxic and can quickly cause death from even the smallest exposure to them.

Toxic effects of plants, however, vary greatly between species and can change according to the status of a plant's health. Several important factors should be considered here. These include the time of year it is, the stage of a plant's growth, the conditions of growth (is the plant healthy and thriving, barely alive, dormant?), humidity, the age of a plant, and many other issues. Time of year is very significant; it can actually make all the difference in the toxicity of a plant. The level and concentration of poisons in a plant can easily change not only from year to year, but throughout the growing season. Environmental factors play a vital role throughout the year. Are you experiencing a drought? Has there been excessive moisture? There are just so many things to think about!

Unfortunately if your dog has been exposed to and poisoned by a plant, diagnosis can be difficult to pinpoint. The best way to verify diagnosis of toxic plant ingestion is often to find a specific plant physically present in the area your dog was. You need to properly identify the plant, then prove that the dog ingested it. Look for leaves or twigs that have been chewed on or near the plant itself, or collect stool or vomit samples and look for fragments there. Always bring anything you find with you to the veterinarian.

There are not many antibiotics available to cure plant poisoning. Usually the best thing to do is help quicken the elimination of the plant from the gastrointestinal tract. Symptomatic and supportive care follow once the poison leaves the dog's system. This should all be done under a veterinarian's care. If you've discovered the source of the poison, remove all dangerous plants from your property to prevent recurrence.

The above is an excerpt from:
Just HOW Poisonous are Those Plants?
by Carolyn Artale

Additional information at The Poop http://www.thepoop.com

POISONOUS HOUSEPLANTS
Common Name Botanical Name Poisonous Part
Bird of Paradise Strelizia regirae Fruit, seeds
Boston Ivy Parthenocissus quinquefolia All parts
Caladium Caladium All parts
Creeping Charlie Glecoma hederacea All parts
Dumbcane Dieffenbachia All parts
Emerald Duke Philodendron hastatum All parts
Glacier Ivy Hedera glacier Leaves, berries
Heartleaf Philadendron cordatum All parts
English IvyHedera helixLeaves, berries
Marble QueenScindapsus aureusAll parts
MajestyPhilodendron hastatumAll parts
Nephthytis, Arrowhead VineSynogonium podophyllum albolineatumAll parts
Parlor IvyPhilodendron cordatumAll parts
PothosScindapsus aureusAll parts
Red PrincessPhilodendron hastatumAll parts
SaddleleafPhilodendron selloumAll parts
Split leaf PhilodendronMonstera deliciosaAll parts
Umbrella PlantCyperus alternifoliusAll parts
POISONOUS OUTDOOR PLANTS
Common NameBotanical Name Poisonous Part
ApricotPrunus ameniacaStem, bark, seed pits
AzaleaRhododendron occidentaleAll parts
BaneberryActaea SpicataBerries, roots, foliage
BuchberryLantanaAll parts
Castor BeanRicinus communisSeeds, if chewed
Choke CherryPrunus virginicaLeaves, seed pits, stems, bark
DaffodilNarcissusBulbs
DaphneDaphne mezereumBerries, bark, leaves
FoxgloveDigitalis purpuraLeaves, seeds, flowers
HemlockConium maculatumAll parts, root and root stalk
Hens-and-ChicksLantanaAll parts
HyacinthHyacinthus orientalisBulbs, leaves, flowers
HydrangeaHydrangea macrophyllaLeaves, buds
Jerusalem CherrySolanim pseudocapsciumAll parts, unripe fruit
Jimson WeedDatura stramoniumAll parts
JonquilNarcissusBulbs
Lily-of-the-ValleyConvallaria majalisAll parts
MandrakePodophyllum peltatumRoots, foliage, unripe fruit
MistletoePhoradendron FlavescensBerries
Morning GloryIpomoea violacesSeeds
NightshadeAtropa belladonnaAll parts
OleanderNorium OleanderAll parts, including dried leaves
PoinsettiaEuphorbia pulcherrimaLeaves, flowers
Pokeweed, InkberryPhytolacca americanaAll parts
Red SageLantana camaraGreen berries
RhododendronRhododendronAll parts
RhubarbRheum raponticumLeaves
Sweet PeaLathyrus odoratusSeeds, pods
TulipTulipaBulbs
WisteriaWisteriaSeeds, pods
YewTaxusNeedles, bark, seeds

 
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