And a dog made sick by a plant isn’t as rare as you might think. <\/p>
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) estimates that more than 14,000 pets are poisoned by plants<\/a> in the home or environment each year. If you suspect your dog is ill from ingesting a plant, contact either your local veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888.486-4435.<\/p> Now let’s take a closer look at those 28 plants poisonous to dogs (with alternative choices of flowers, shrubs and trees that are not toxic):<\/p> This is a case in which astounding beauty can be deadly. Rhododendrons are the showiest of spring bloomers, displaying colorful yellow, pink, purple, orange, white, or red blooms. <\/p> Rhododendrons (and other azalea plants) are highly toxic to dogs and humans. The toxins disrupt skeletal, heart, and nerve function, and effects can manifest within a few hours of consumption. <\/p> Scientific name: <\/strong>Rhododendron<\/p> Toxin(s):<\/strong> andromedotoxin, grayanotoxin<\/p> Examples of poisoning symptoms: <\/strong>vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling, appetite loss, death<\/p> Plant alternatives:<\/strong> Hawthorn, abelia<\/p> Tulips are poisonous to dogs, and that’s a shame because the colorful cup-shaped blooms are perfect for cutting or planting in containers or borders. And tulips are everywhere in springtime, so be careful when walking your dog around your neighborhood. <\/p> Toxins are present in all parts of a tulip, but the bulb has the highest concentration. <\/p> Scientific name: <\/strong>Tulipa <\/p> Toxin(s):<\/strong> Tulipalin A and B<\/p> Examples of poisoning symptoms: <\/strong>vomiting, diarrhea, excessive salivation, depression<\/p> Plant alternatives: <\/strong>quamash (camassia), lisianthus<\/p> April showers bring May flowers, they say, and daffodils are some of the first signs of spring. <\/p> Unfortunately, daffodils could lead to a rushed trip to a veterinary ER. <\/p> Daffodils are poisonous to dogs. Be cautious of their flowers, leaves, roots, and bulbs; and don’t let your dog dig in your flower bed if your have daffodils. Why? Like tulips, daffodil bulbs hold the most toxicity. If ingested in large quantities, your dog may experience convulsions, low blood pressure, and cardiac arrhythmias.<\/p> Scientific name: <\/strong>Narcissus<\/p> Toxin(s):<\/strong> alkaloids like lycorine, calcium oxalate crystals<\/p> Examples of poisoning symptoms: <\/strong>vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, seizures, low blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias<\/p> Plant alternatives:<\/strong> spring beauty (claytonia virginica)<\/p> Oleander is an ornamental plant often used as a privacy screen or in foundation plantings. It’s beauty can be heart-stopping — literally.<\/p> Oleander is poisonous to dogs and humans. Toxins in all parts of the plant can produce cardiac glycosides (which can disrupt heart function) and saponins (which can destroy membranes crucial to the respiratory and digestive systems).<\/p> Scientific name: <\/strong>Nerium oleander<\/p> Toxin(s):<\/strong> cardiac glycosides, saponins<\/p> Examples of poisoning symptoms: <\/strong>excessive drooling, diarrhea, abdominal pain, colic, depression<\/p> Plant alternatives:<\/strong> Arizona rosewood, bottlebrush<\/p> The sago palm, a tropical and subtropical evergreen widely grown as a houseplant and in border plantings, looks green, calm, and majestic. <\/p> If looks could kill, as they say… <\/p> All parts of a sago palm are toxic, but the palm seeds are most poisonous to dogs. <\/p> Scientific name: <\/strong>Cycas revoluta<\/p> Toxin(s):<\/strong> cycasin<\/p> Examples of poisoning symptoms: <\/strong>bloody stool, bruising, vomiting, excessive thirst, liver failure, death<\/p> Plant alternatives:<\/strong> windmill palm, Christmas palm, feather palm<\/p> Don’t stand under the mistletoe with your beloved if Rover or Fluffy is anywhere nearby. <\/p> Here’s why: As festive as mistletoe can be during the holiday season, it can be deadly to dogs. The toxins in mistletoe’s fruit can hinder cell protein function and lead to digestive upset and neurological problems in dogs.<\/p> Scientific name: <\/strong>Phoradendron Leucarpum<\/p> Toxin(s):<\/strong> pharatoxin viscumin, amine, toxalbumin<\/p> Examples of poisoning symptoms: <\/strong>vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, low heart rate<\/p> Plant alternatives:<\/strong> N\/A<\/p> All yews are poisonous to dogs \u2014 American yew, Japanese yew, Pacific yew, and so on. All parts of the yew are toxic, including the attractive red berries, which contain toxins that can affect the heart and respiratory system.<\/p> Scientific name: <\/strong>Taxus<\/p> Toxin(s):<\/strong> taxine A and B, volatile oil<\/p> Examples of poisoning symptoms: <\/strong>difficulty breathing, seizures, tremors, vomiting, death<\/p> Plant alternatives:<\/strong> lilac bushes, woods rose, red maple tree<\/p> Lily of the Valley is deadly for your dog. If your dog takes a bite of these fragrant, bell-shaped blooms, it may experience gastrointestinal issues, cardiac arrhythmias, convulsions, and confusion.<\/p> Scientific name: <\/strong>Convallaria majalis<\/p> Toxin(s):<\/strong> cardiac glycosides, saponins<\/p> Examples of poisoning symptoms: <\/strong>vomiting, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, disorientation, seizures<\/p> Plant alternatives:<\/strong> blue bead lily, queen\u2019s cup<\/p> Autumn crocus is toxic to dogs. This fall-blooming perennial plant contains the toxin Colchicine. The flowers, leaves, and seeds are carriers of the toxic alkaloid that cause organ damage, intestinal issues, and respiratory failure. <\/p> Scientific name: <\/strong>Colchicum<\/p> Toxin(s):<\/strong> Alkaloid colchicine<\/p> Examples of poisoning symptoms: <\/strong>vomiting blood, shock, diarrhea, organ damage<\/p> Plant alternatives:<\/strong> N\/A<\/p> Foxglove is highly poisonous to dogs and people. The blooms, leaves, roots, and stems of foxglove, also known as Bells of Ireland, contain a toxin that can affect your dog’s.heart, as well as the digestive and nervous systems. <\/p> An easy swap for foxglove is snapdragon, which is not harmful to dogs.<\/p> Scientific name: <\/strong>Digitalis purpurea<\/p> Toxin(s):<\/strong> cardiac glycosides<\/p> Examples of poisoning symptoms: <\/strong>vomiting, cardiac arrhythmias, diarrhea, death<\/p> Plant alternatives:<\/strong> snapdragons, lilacs<\/p> Castor bean plants are deadly to your dog — and you. All parts of the plant can cause death or serious injury. Symptoms such as loss of appetite, extreme thirst, and other more severe effects can occur within 12 to 48 hours after ingestion. <\/p> When castor beans are used to make castor oil, a natural remedy used for an array of medicinal purposes, the toxin ricin is removed. <\/p> Scientific name: <\/strong>Ricinus communis<\/p> Toxin(s):<\/strong> ricin, ricinine alkaloid<\/p> Examples of poisoning symptoms: <\/strong>oral burning\/irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, coordination loss, convulsions, death<\/p> Plant alternatives:<\/strong> pawpaw, American beautyberry, fragrant sumac<\/p> All parts of chrysanthemums, aka mums, are toxic to dogs. Mums have naturally occurring toxins that cause drooling, vomiting, and stumbling. <\/p> In fact, the naturally occurring toxins, namely pyrethrins and lactones, are key ingredients used to formulate insecticides. These toxins are found in all parts of the plant.<\/p> Scientific name: <\/strong>Chrysanthemum<\/p> Toxin(s):<\/strong> pyrethrins, sesquiterpene, lactones<\/p> Examples of poisoning symptoms: <\/strong>vomiting, excessive salivation, diarrhea, dermatitis<\/p> Plant alternatives:<\/strong> globe thistle, garden roses, asters<\/p> An amaryllis has beautiful blooms, but all parts of the plant, especially the bulb, are hazardous to your dog. In fact, the alkaloid in amaryllis can cause serious harm to your dog at the cellular level..<\/p> Scientific name: <\/strong>Amaryllis<\/p> Toxin(s):<\/strong> lycorine<\/p> Examples of poisoning symptoms: <\/strong>vomiting, depression, diarrhea, excess salivation<\/p> Plant alternatives:<\/strong> nerine<\/p> If your dog sniffs hyacinths, the fragrance can cause an asthma-like effect in your dog’s respiratory system. All parts of this plant are poisonous, with the bulbs being especially toxic.<\/p> Scientific name: <\/strong>Hyacinthus orientalis<\/p> Toxin(s):<\/strong> crystalline alkaloids like lycorine<\/p> Examples of poisoning symptoms: <\/strong>tremors, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, stomach cramps<\/p> Plant alternatives:<\/strong> muscari (aka grape hyacinth), freesia<\/p> Morning glory is a sight to behold, but it\u2019s toxic to dogs. The flowers on the vine and their seeds can cause vomiting and hallucinations.<\/p> Scientific name: <\/strong>Ipomoea<\/p> Toxin(s):<\/strong> indole alkaloids, LSD<\/p> Examples of poisoning symptoms: <\/strong>vomiting, diarrhea, hallucinations<\/p> Plant alternatives:<\/strong> nasturtium<\/p> Cyclamen boasts heart-shaped or kidney-shaped leaves, but watch out \u2013\u2013 the roots of this plant contain toxins that can harm dogs. The naturally occurring toxins are thought to act as protective substances against harmful microorganisms and herbivores.<\/p> 1. Rhododendron (and Other Azalea Plants)<\/h2>
![\"Rhododendron](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2021-06-20-06-49-42-1500x1125-1.jpg\")
2. Tulips<\/h2>
![\"Pink](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/pink-tulips-flower-botany-flowering-plant-petal-1605889-pxhere.com-1.jpg\")
3. Daffodils<\/h2>
![\"Yellow](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/nature-plant-flower-spring-yellow-daffodil-1286993-pxhere.com-1.jpg\")
4. Oleander<\/h2>
![\"Pink](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2018-11-12-13-58-01-1200x803-1.jpg\")
5. Sago Palm<\/h2>
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/tree-plant-leaf-flower-jungle-botany-1192112-pxhere.com-1.jpg\")
6. Mistletoe<\/h2>
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/mistletoe-plant-leaves-850x607-1.jpg\")
7. Yew<\/h2>
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/tree-branch-plant-leaf-flower-old-781774-pxhere.com-1.jpg\")
8. Lily of the Valley<\/h2>
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/pexels-\u0430\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0430-\u0434\u043e\u0431\u0440\u0430\u044f-4608239-1-1.jpg\")
9. Autumn Crocus<\/h2>
![\"Autumn](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/autumn-crocus-1.jpg\")
10. Foxglove<\/h2>
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/blossom-plant-flower-petal-summer-love-961934-pxhere.com-1.jpg\")
11. Castor Bean<\/h2>
![\"Caster](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/castor-bean-plant-1.jpg\")
12. Chrysanthemum<\/h2>
![\"Colorful](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/flower-blossom-bloom-chrysanthemum-white-pink-1598666-pxhere.com-1.jpg\")
13. Amaryllis<\/h2>
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/flower-flowering-plant-plant-petal-amaryllis-belladonna-terrestrial-plant-1603424-pxhere.com-1-1.jpg\")
14. Hyacinth<\/h2>
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/hyacint-bloem-bolgewas-flora-1.jpg\")
15. Morning Glory<\/h2>
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/pexels-ray-bilcliff-1591936-1.jpg\")
16. Cyclamen<\/h2>
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/blossom-plant-flower-petal-red-botany-456734-pxhere.com-1-1.jpg\")