Poisonous Plants - Healthy Dog Experts

Eating plants and vegetation is not a common cause of poisoning in dogs, but it does occur. Puppies going through the chewing stage are more likely to ingest indoor and outdoor plants. In adult dogs, chewing on plants may be a sign of boredom or frustration associated with separation anxiety or a recent change in the household routine. The variety of potentially poisonous plants and shrubs allows for a wide range of symptoms. Signs include mouth irritation, drooling diarrhea, vomiting, hallucinations, rapid labored breathing, staggering, muscle tremors, seizures, coma and death. Some plants cause sudden death without premonitory signs. Other plants contain chemicals that are extremely irritating to the skin. Milkweed, lily-of-the-valley, laurel, azalea, foxglove and oleander all contain cardiac glycosides of the digitalis class. Even though these plants have a bitter taste, pets do sometimes eat enough to cause death. Ornamental plants of the nightshade family, including Chinese Lantern, Christmas Cherry and Ornamental Pepper contain solanines that are toxic to the gastrointestinal system and brain. They too, are a rare cause of death. Below there is a list of common toxic plants, shrubs and trees, but this list does not include all potentially poisonous plants. If your not sure about a plant, ask your local veterinarian or the local plant nursery. Note: some plants, only certain parts are toxic, with others, the whole plant is poisonous.

Treatment: If you suspect your dog has ingested a poisonous plant, induce vomiting (explained below) and call your local doggy doctor for further instructions.

Prevention: To prevent houseplant poisoning, determine which plants are toxic and either dispose of them or keep them in a place the dog is unable to get too. Outside, be careful of any sticks you might throw for your dog that he may chew on. Fence off dangerous plants so your dog cannot reach them.

Houseplants that cause a skin reaction after contact with the skin or mouth
Chrysanthemum	Poinsettia
Creeping fig	Weeping fig
Irritating plants, some of which contains oxalic acid, which causes mouth swelling, difficulty swallowing, respiratory problems and gastrointestinal upsets
Arrowhead vine	Malanga
Boston ivy	Marble queen
Caladium	Mother-in-law plant
Calla or arum lily	Neththyis
Dumbcane (diffenbachia)	Parlor ivy
Elephant ear	Pathos or devil's lily
Emerald duke	Peace lily
Heart leaf (philodendron)	Red princess
Jack-in-the-pulpit	Saddle leaf (philodendron)
Majesty	Split leaf (philodendron)
Tuberous begonia
Plants that contain a wide variety of poisons-most causing vomiting, an acurately painful abdomen and cramps; some cause tremors, heart and respiratory and/or kidney problems, which are difficult for owners to interpret
Amarllis	Ivy species
Asparagus fern	Jerusalem cherry
Azalea	Nightshade
Bird-of-paradise	Pot mum
Creeping Charlie	Ripple ivy
Crown of thorns	Spider mum
Elephant ear	Sprangeri fern
Umbrella plant

Outdoor plants that can cause vomiting and diarrhea
Bittersweet woody	Indian turnip
Castor bean	Indian tobacco
Daffodil	Larkspur woody
Delpinium	Poke weed
Foxglove	Skunk cabbage
Ground cherry	Soap berry
Wisteria
Trees and shrubs that may cause vomiting, painful abdomen and diarrhea
American yew	English yew
Apricot	Horse chestnut
Almond	Japanese plum
Azalea (rhododendron)	Mock orange
Balsam pear	Monkey pad
Bird-of-paradise bush	Peach
Buckeye	Privet
Cherry	Rain tree
English holly	Western black locust yew
Wild cherry

Outdoor plants with varied toxic effects
Angel's trumpet	Mescal bean
Buttercup	Moonseed
Dologeton	Mushrooms
Dutchman's breeches	Nightshade
Jasmine	Pigweed
Jimsonweed	Poison hemlock
Locoweed	Rhubarb
Lupine	Spinach
May apple	Sunburned potato
Matrimony vine	Tomato vine
Water hemlock
Hallucinogens
Locoweed	Nutmeg
Marijuana	Periwinkle
Morning glory	Peyote
Poppy
Outdoor plants that cause convulsions
Chinaberry	Nux vomica
Coriaria	Water hemlock
Moonweed

Other toxic plants
Bean plant	Mistletoe
Cactus	Narcissus
Crocus	Potato leaves
Hydrangea	Tomato leaves

In many cases it is preferable to induce vomiting at the scene rather than proceed directly to the animal hospital. For example: if you see the dog swallow the poisonous substance, it is obviously best to make the dog vomit it right back up. Similarly, if the poison was ingested within two hours but it will take 30 minutes or longer to get to a animal hospital, it is frequently advisable to induce vomiting at home.

4If the dog is in a stupor, breathing with difficulty, or shows any sign of neurologic involvement

4If the dog has swallowed an acid, alkali, cleaning solution, household chemical or petroleum product

4If the dog has swallowed a sharp object that could lodge in the esophagus or perforate the stomach

Induce vomiting by giving the dog hydrogen peroxide. A 3 percent solution is most effective. Give one teaspoon (5 ml) per 10 pounds (4.5 kg) body weight of the dog. Repeat every 15 to 20 minutes, up to three times, until the dog vomits. Walking the dog after giving each dose may help to stimulate vomiting.

Once the poison has been cleared from the dog's stomach, give him activated charcoal to bind any remaining poison and prevent further absorption. The most effective and easily administered home oral charcoal product is compressed activated charcoal, which comes in 5 gram tablets. The dose is one tablet per 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of body weight.

If activated charcoal is not available , coat the intestines with milk and egg whites using 1/4 cup (60 ml) egg whites and 1/4 cup milk per 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of body weight. Administer into the dogs cheek pouch using a plastic syringe.

Intensive care in an animal hospital improves the survival rate for dogs who have been poisoned. Intravenous fluids support circulation, treat shock, and protect the kidneys. A large urine output assists in eliminating the poison.