Plants can be poisonous to your lovable pets, although they look pretty. Can’t believe? Yes, they are harmful to your pets, but not all.
In April last year, a dog belonged to Tampa in Florida went to the edge of death after it consumed a few seeds of a sago palm. After this incident, vets from Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners showed warning signs of the garden dangers.
If you haven’t ever faced this worst experience, feel lucky but be careful hereafter.
Does only the sago plant cause danger to a dog? What are the other plants considered harmful to the pets? What should you do if your dog or cat has a few bites of the plant material?
Take a visit to our article and get some idea about the poisonous plants and guidance to prevent and overcome such a harmful situation.
Plants Poisonous To Dogs List
Reports say that 93 percent of Americans do not even know what kind of plants they have in their homes. As not all the plants you grow are harmful to your pooch, you must know the ones that are toxic to your lovely dog.
Here’s the list of top 10 poisonous plants to your canines.
10. Kalanchoe
A common house plant with small and dense flowers, it causes vomiting and diarrhea. Heart arrhythmias will also occur in rare cases.
9. Amaryllis
This plant is popular at the time of Easter. It is poisonous to dogs as toxins present in this plant cause diarrhea, vomiting, depression, abdominal pain, anorexia, hypersalivation, and tremors.
8. Cyclamen
It is a common household plant that can even lead your pooch to death. Your pup will get oral irritation, diarrhea, vomiting, seizures and heart abnormalities if it eats this plant.
7. Tulip
The entire plant is harmful to dogs. But, the bulb is more poisonous and causes nausea, excess drooling and oral irritation in dogs.
6. Daffodil
The bulbs of this plant are highly toxic. If your pooch, unfortunately, eats a few bites of this plant, it will cause diarrhea, vomiting, drop in blood pressure, abdominal pain, convulsions, and arrhythmias.
5. Oleander
It is a popular ornamental shrub in the United States of America. Digoxin, a glycoside in this plant, is very much harmful to dogs and cause blood in diarrhea, vomiting, muscle tremors and heart abnormalities.
4. Sago Palm
This plant is extremely toxic and fatal to dogs. It causes blood vomit, diarrhea, bleeding disorders, and liver failure.
3. Lily of the Valley
A pretty plant, it is fatal to your dog as it contains the harmful toxin called “glycoside”. Your dog will get moderate to severe impacts such as vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, drop in heart rate and cardiac arrhythmias.
2. Autumn Crocus
It is an autumn-blooming, ornamental plant. But, it causes a severe burning situation in the mouth and leads to vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, heart arrhythmias and damage to liver and kidney. The bulbs in this plant are highly toxic.
1. Azalea
You can call this spring blooming plant as “deadly” because it leads to death in severe cases. Only a few leaves of this plant are enough for your dog to be in a coma. The first symptom is frequent vomiting and diarrhea in your pooch.
House Plants Poisonous To Dogs
You might have decorated your home with plenty of greenish and vibrant houseplants. But, do you know that those pleasant shrubs may not be pretty for your pooch’s health?
You may feel stress-free and happy with these plants, but they contain toxins and have health impacts on your cutie pie! So, it’s no harm in growing these pretty plants, but you have to take care of your dog’s health by not letting it nibble on those plants.
We have categorized the toxic household plants based on the severity of their effects on your dog.
10. Jade
Severity: Low
Crassula ovata or Jade is a house plant that requires low maintenance and it has minimal impacts such as retching and nausea in your dogs.
9. Mistletoe
Severity: Mild
A famous Christmas plant, it is toxic to dogs and causes short-term effects such as vomiting and diarrhea
8. Poinsettia
Severity: Mild
Next, to mistletoe, it is a well-known Christmas plant. But, it can cause vomiting, hypersalivation, and irritation in mucous membranes of your dog.
7. Philodendrons
Toxins: Insoluble calcium oxalates
Severity: Mild
The most common houseplant, philodendrons cause mild effects on your dog such as irritation in the lips, mouth and the tongue. They also make your dog to drool much and cause vomiting as well.
6. Elephant’s Ear
Severity: Mild
Elephant’s ear is nothing but the caladium plant, well known for its colorful leaves. But, it causes excess drooling, vomiting and burning sensation and swelling in the tongue and mouth.
5. Dumbcane
Severity: Mild
Dumbcane or Dieffenbachia is a common houseplant that your pooch feels difficult to swallow. And, it causes mild effects such as vomiting and oral irritation, and burning sensation in the mouth, tongue, and lips.
4. Peace Lily
Toxins: Insoluble calcium oxalates
Severity: Mild
It never provides peace to your pooch. Though it blooms always, requires little maintenance, and survives for a long time, it is toxic to dogs. This plant causes vomiting, drooling, and swelling in tongue, upper airway, and lips.
3. Corn Plant
Toxins: Saponins
Severity: Moderate
Dracaena fragrans or the corn plant has moderate toxic effects on your pooch. It causes drooling, loss of appetite, vomiting with blood sometimes and depression.
2. Hyacinth
Severity: Moderate to severe
It is a beautiful houseplant notable for its flamboyant flowers and the scent. But, it is harmful to your canine as the bulbs of this plant can cause vomiting, diarrhea with blood at times, tremors and depression.
1. Castor beans
Toxins: Ricis
Severity: Severe
Richins present in plant causes respiratory distress and pulmonary edema in your pooch.
List of Indoor plants poisonous to dogs
Garden Plants Poisonous to Dogs
Plants that are at the backyard of your home can also be toxic to your dogs. As any part (seeds, leaves, etc.) of the plant can cause harmful effects on your pooch, you must know which part of the backyard plant is actually harmful to your pet.
The below-listed backyard plants are poisonous to your pooch.
- Amaryllis bulbs
- Asparagus fern
- Delphiniums
- Foxgloves
- Hemlock
- Lupins
- Morning glory
- Nightshade
- Oak
- Rhubarb leaves
- Sweet pea
- Umbrella plant
- Wisteria
- Yew
Are Succulents Poisonous To Dogs?
Some plants store water either in their stems or leaves and some store in both. This type of plants is called succulent and it appears fleshy or swollen.
Succulents are trending for indoor decoration, easy cultivation and less maintenance these days. They also come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. But, these plants can be toxic to your dogs.
Also, your dog can easily access them, but get only mild to moderate health issues. So, if you want your pooch to stay healthy, it is better to not let the pup to go nearby these plants.
We have listed a few succulents here for your awareness.
Aloe Vera
A succulent with medicinal properties, pulps, and juice of this plant are toxic to your dog. Saponins, the toxins, present in this plant cause moderate effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, change in urine color and depression.
Pencil Cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli)
Firestick cactus or Pencil Tree plant, this plant emits a white sap that will cause skin irritations to your pooch. If your dog, unfortunately, eats the juice, your dog will get irritation in the mouth lining, esophagus, stomach and nausea and vomiting.
Snake Plants
A common plant found in homes and offices, it is toxic to dogs. If your dog consumes more amounts, it will get nausea and vomiting. Besides, the poison in this plant will cause swelling in the throat and tongue.
Silver Dollar (Crassula arborescens)
Also called “Chinese Jade and Silver Jade”, it will cause nausea, vomiting, and tremors.
A string of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)
A vine succulent, it upsets your dog’s stomach and makes the pup to vomit, to have diarrhea if the pooch eats the leaves of this succulent.
Some succulents are harmless. You have to know about these varieties as well.
- Blue Echeveria
- Ghost Plant (the Mother of Pearl)
- Hardy Baby Tears
- Haworthia
- Maroon Chenille Plant
- Mexican Snowballs
- Painted Lady — also known as Copper Rose, Maroon
- Plush Plant
- Tree Cactus
- Wax Rosette
Are Spider Plants Poisonous To Dogs?
No! As this plant doesn’t contain toxins, it is safe for your canine. Generally, it is recommended for homes as it grows easily and is an air purifier. Its leaves look like grass and can range from pale to emerald green.
Sometimes, your dog loves the plant taste and becomes sick. Don’t panic! Your canine will only get an upset stomach.
If you want to avoid this, it is better to place them high, for example on the top of a refrigerator.
Non Toxic Plants For Dogs
Are you feeling like you aren’t able to make your home greenish and colorful because of their toxicity? Don’t worry! Some plants are there for your dogs!
The below-mentioned plants are considered non-toxic and safe for your canines.
- African Daisy
- Bamboo
- Blue echeveria
- “Burro’s tail”
- Creeping Rosemary
- Canna Lily
- Coral Bells
- Fennel
- “Hens and chicks”
- Jasmine
- Marigold
- Petunia
- Pineapple Sage
- Polka Dot Plant
- “Ponytail palm”
- Purple Basil
- Snapdragons
- Windmill Palm
FAQs
Is English Ivy Poisonous to Dogs?
Yes, of course! English ivy or Hedera Helix is a houseplant that you can even grow in shade. But, it is a poisonous vine because of having a natural steroid “sapogenin” and polyacetylene compounds.
These chemicals can cause mild to moderate effects such as skin irritation, redness, swelling, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and drooling in your pooch.
The leaves of this vine are considered to have the toxins. The sap of this plant can also stimulate skin rashes. So, keep an eye an on your dog not to nibble on the leaves.
If unfortunately, your pooch ate the leaves, it is better to consult the vet or a pet poison hotline.
Is Bougainvillea Poisonous to Dogs?
Of course! It is toxic to your pup. But, this popular vine can cause mild effects such as vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea.
As it is an evergreen flowering plant and grows up to 12 feet, it attracts bees and butterflies. So your dog may be at the risk of stung by those bees.
Although your pooch won’t get any toxic reaction from this plant, it is better to consult the vet for advice in cases of vomiting and diarrhea.
Is Monkey Grass Poisonous to Dogs?
No! It is a non-toxic ornamental plant. Rumors are popular about this plant being poisonous to your pooch. But, don’t believe them.
Some dog parents have reported that their dogs got an upset stomach and vomiting. So, it is no harm in growing this plant.
Dog Skin Allergy Plants
Skin allergies in dogs are common. But, do you know that pollen from plants also causes allergies in pooch?
Yes, your dog will get skin allergies because of the pollens in a few plants. A list of such plants has been provided here for you.
- Bermudagrass
- Male juniper bushes
- Bottlebrush
- Primrose tree
- Velvet plant
- Snailseed vine
My Dog Ate a Poisonous Plant, What Do I Do?
If your dog has eaten the leaves of a poisonous plant, don’t fear! First, check for the common symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, irregular heartbeat, etc.
Then, you have to call for immediate veterinary attention. Call the Pet Poison hotline (1-800-213-6680) or the local ASPCA hotline.
You can also call your vet or the emergency vet as well. Get the help from the people and make your dog ready for their arrival. If you want to do home remedies, get the advice from your vet before you do it.
