From spring bulbs to perennials, there are a surprising number of plants that are harmful to dogs. Even some fruits and vegetables that you’re growing in your own backyard could have potentially fatal effects if ingested by your dog.
Below, we’ll take a look at some plants that can be lethal if eaten by a dog. If you have any of these in your garden, it’s a good idea to dig them up and replace them with something dog-friendly. If you don’t have them currently, it’s not worth the risk of planting them at all.
It is worth noting that the toxicity of plants varies and, depending on how much of it your dog has eaten, they will be more likely to cause an upset stomach rather than anything too serious. This includes apples, granny’s bonnet, bluebells, and hellebores.
- Apricot: The stone found inside an apricot contains cyanide which can be fatal to dogs
- Azalea: All parts of azaleas and rhododendrons are harmful to dogs and can cause nausea, vomiting, breathing difficulties, and even coma. If eaten in large quantities, they can be fatal.
- Castor Oil Plant: This is one of the deadliest plants you can find. It’s lethal to both dogs and humans and even eating a single seed can cause death.
- Daffodil: The flowers of the daffodil are not poisonous to dogs, but the bulb is. If eaten, they can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even death.
- Delphinium: Young delphiniums and delphinium seeds can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and can be potentially fatal.
- Elephant Ears: The flowers and the leaves of the elephant ears plant can lead to a dog’s mouth and throat burning and swelling. If enough is ingested, your dog's tongue may swell large enough to block their trachea and they could suffocate.
- Grapevines: The stalks and leaves aren’t toxic, but grapes themselves can cause kidney failure and, ultimately, lead to death.
- Jessamines: Both the berries and the sap of jessamines can be fatal if eaten in large quantities. Even in small quantities, it can lead to digestive problems including vomiting and diarrhea, as well as damage to the nervous system.
- Jimson Weed: Effects of a dog eating jimson weed include extreme thirst, distorted vision, delirium, incoherence, come, and potential death.
- Mistletoe: Mistletoe grows pretty high up, so it’s unlikely that your dog would be able to reach it to eat. However, when brought into the house over the holidays, they could potentially eat the berries. If this happens, your dog can suffer from a gastrointestinal infection and develop dermatitis. Mistletoe berries are particularly lethal to puppies, and it only takes a few to kill.
- Deadly Nightshade: The clue is in the name, here. Eating any part of the deadly nightshade plant can create severe digestive problems for a dog that will ultimately lead to death.
- Oleander: If eaten by a dog, oleander can create heart problems, severe digestive issues, and dermatitis. If eaten in a large enough amount, it can lead to death.
- Poison Hemlock: Another plant that tells you what it’s capable of! If a dog eats poison hemlock, the nervous system can become affected and this can lead to death.
- Ragwort: Even the tiniest amount of ragwort can lead to death through irreversible kidney and liver failure.
- Wild Cherry: If, like all dogs, yours particularly enjoys chewing on a stick, make sure it hasn’t come from the wild cherry tree. Ingesting both the twigs and leaves of wild cherry can be fatal to dogs.
- Yew: The berries and the foliage of yew can cause dizziness, abdominal cramps, excess salivation, and vomiting if eaten by a dog. Another scary fact about yew is that it can even lead to a fatality without any of the side effects listed above manifesting beforehand.
If you suspect that your dog has eaten a toxic plant, it’s essential that you seek the help of a veterinarian immediately.
Are Geraniums poisonous to dogs?
There are hundreds of varieties of geraniums, but there are only two types of geranium. These are the Geranium genus (otherwise known as Cranesbill) and Pelargoniums. And, of these two types, it’s only Pelargoniums that are poisonous to dogs. Cranesbill geraniums are not poisonous to dogs.
There are two substances you’ll find in pelargoniums that are poisonous to dogs. These are geraniol and linalool. These are the same substances that you’ll find in the geranium oil you can use in aromatherapy, and they are also used as insect repellents. With this in mind, it’s also important to keep any products that contain these away from your dog.
So, if you’re wondering whether the geraniums in your garden are poisonous to dogs, the first thing you need to do is find out whether they are actually geraniums, or if they are pelargoniums. If they are cranesbill geraniums, they are non toxic and safe to leave as they are.
If they are pelargoniums, it’s best to dig them up. If you can’t bear the idea of throwing them away, plant them into a container and put them in a place that you know your dog will not be able to reach.
Is Jasmine poisonous to dogs?
Jasmine is not poisonous to dogs. This means that, if eaten, it doesn’t cause any organ failure or fatalities. However, it may create short-term gastrointestinal issues if eaten by a dog, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The reason for this isn’t due to any toxicity within the plant, but more to do with the fact that it simply isn’t a part of a dog’s natural diet. As such, this can create an upset stomach.
However, it is important to note that there are some plants that borrow the jasmine name. These are poisonous to dogs, so it’s important to make sure that you’ve not got one of these in your garden.
These are “Caroline Jasmine”, “Night Blooming Jasmine”, and “Cape Jasmine”. Each of these can create severe gastrointestinal problems if eaten by a dog. In some extreme cases, they can even lead to seizures, coma, and death.