As a dog owner, it's important to be aware of the plants in your home and backyard that could be harmful to your furry friend.
In Australia, there has been a surge in popularity with house plants and there are several common plants that can be toxic to dogs if ingested.
While this list is a start, there are in fact hundreds of plants that are toxic to dogs so it's best to ask at your nursery or garden center for their expert advise!
Knowing which plants to avoid when you are at the garden center next can help keep your pup safe and healthy!
Azaleas and Rhododendrons.
Azaleas and rhododendrons are popular ornamental plants that can be found in many Australian gardens. However, these plants contain toxins called grayanotoxins, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even heart problems in dogs if ingested. Symptoms can appear within a few hours of ingestion and can be severe, so it's important to keep your dog away from these plants. If you suspect your dog has ingested azaleas or rhododendrons, seek veterinary attention immediately.
Sago Palm.
The Sago Palm is a popular ornamental plant that can be kept indoors and outdoors and is highly toxic to dogs. All parts of the plant, including the seeds, contain cycasin, a toxin that can cause liver failure in dogs if ingested. Symptoms of Sago Palm poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, seizures, and even death. If you suspect your dog has ingested any part of a Sago Palm, seek veterinary attention immediately.
Oleander.
Oleander is a common garden plant that is highly toxic to dogs. All parts of the plant, including the leaves, flowers, and sap, contain cardiac glycosides, which can cause heart failure and death in dogs if ingested. Symptoms of Oleander poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, seizures, and irregular heartbeats. If you suspect your dog has ingested any part of an Oleander plant, seek veterinary attention immediately.
Lily of the Valley.
Lily of the Valley is a highly toxic plant for dogs in Australia. All parts of the plant, including the flowers and leaves, contain cardiac glycosides, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and even death in dogs if ingested. Symptoms of Lily of the Valley poisoning may not appear for several hours after ingestion, so it’s important to seek veterinary attention immediately if you suspect your dog has ingested any part of this plant.
Daffodils.
Daffodils are also toxic to dogs in Australia. The bulbs of the plant contain lycorine, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even cardiac arrhythmias in dogs if ingested. Symptoms of daffodil poisoning may not appear for several hours after ingestion, so it’s important to seek veterinary attention immediately if you suspect your dog has ingested any part of this plant. Keep your furry friend safe by keeping daffodils out of reach or avoiding them altogether.
Wait, there's more!
Australia is home to a variety of plants that can be toxic to dogs. While we have only touched on some in our blog, other common ones include holly, tulip, lilies, carnations, chrysanthemum, corn plant, dumb cane, and jade plant.
It's important for dog owners to be aware of these plants and keep them out of reach to prevent accidental ingestion.
Remember to keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list, and there are many other plants that can be toxic to dogs.
What Vegetable Plants are Toxic to Dogs?
Australian backyards more often than not have a vegie patch of some description that will grow popular human safe food. While our hounds can eats some fruit and veg, there are others that can be toxic to them. Again, this is not comprehensive but it covers some of the most commonly grown Aussie veggies. These include the leaves and stems of tomato plants, grapes and any products made from them (such as sultanas and raisins), onions, rhubarb leaves, avocado, macadamia nuts, garlic, and walnuts.
It's important to keep these items out of reach of your four legged mate to prevent any potential harm.
Common Poisoning Symptoms in Dogs
Australia is home to a number of plants that can be toxic to dogs. While not every dog is going to ingest the quantities of these plants to become unwell, it is worth having an awareness, especially if you have a new pup that loves to explore new things!
Symptoms of toxicity can include seizures, agitation, tremors, diarrhea, vomiting, and drooling. If you suspect your dog has ingested a toxic plant, it's important to seek veterinary care immediately.
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