Plants That Are Harmful To Dogs

I want to get rid of any plants that may be harmful to my two dogs. If anyone has any tips as to how I can identify poisonous plants I would be eternally grateful.

Bijou in TX

Answers:

Plants That Are Harmful To Dogs

Here's a great link with a list of them:

uexplore.com (03/31/2005)

By ThriftyFun

Plants That Are Harmful To Dogs

Contact your Humane Society (or check them out on line).

They offer a really great listing of dangers to your pets. Some things you might not even think of.
(like tomatoes and chocolate)

Keep those pets healthy.

Debbie (03/31/2005)

By Debe1204

Plants That Are Harmful To Dogs

Extremely Toxic, Moderately Toxic, and Minimally Toxic

Name and Toxic parts as well as symptoms:

• Aconite, all - nausea and vomiting
• Aloe Vera - diarrhea
• Alsike Clover, trifolium hybridum, whole plant, generally affects horse, cattle and sheep. Causes female organs to swell, starts milk production without pregnancy, cause temporary or permanent infertility.
• Amaryllis Bulbs - upset stomach, hyperactivity, lethargy, coma, shock.
• Angels' Trumpets, toxic if eaten - nausea and vomiting.
• Apple seeds and Apple pips seeds. Varied toxic effects. The plant is cyanogenic.
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• Apple Leaf Croton, whole plant very toxic - could be fatal due to ricin hemorrhages of the heart, degradation of the kidneys and liver and intense inflammation and erosion of intestinal membranes
• Apricot Kernel, kernels contain cyanide. - Children have died from eating too many kernels.
• Arborvitae, harmful if eaten in quantity. - May cause a skin allergy
• Asparagus fern, contains a wide variety of poisons resulting in a bewildering range of symptoms.
• Autumn Crocus, bulbs and entire plant - vomiting, nervous excitement. Plant can cause dermatitis
• Avocado, fruit and pith - diarrhea, vomiting, laboured breathing.
• Azalea, entire plant - nausea, vomiting, depression, difficulty breathing, and coma.
• Barilla, leaves and stems - plant contains soluble oxalates.
• Benweed
• Senecio jacobaea - See Ragwort
• Bird of paradise, seeds - gastrointestinal tract affected by the plant toxins.
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• Bittersweet, entire plant. The plant is reputed to be toxic.
• Black Locust, Robinia pseudoacacia, all parts of the tree, except the flowers, the bark is considered the most toxic - staggering, paralysis, - mainly affecting horses, cattle, sheep and poultry
• Black Walnut, entire. Harmful if eaten in quantity. - Can cause temporary paralysis.
• Bleeding Heart, dicentra spectabilis, foliage, roots. Poisonous in large amounts, contains convulsant including isoquinoline. Plant also causes dermatitis.
• Blue bell - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Boxwood, entire plant - upset stomach, heart failure, excitability or lethargy. Plant also causes dermatitis.
  
• Branching ivy, berries and leaves - gastrointestinal tract affected by saponins. Plant also causes dermatitis.
• British Manrake, bryonia dioica, See White Bryony
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• Buckeyes, Aesculus hippocastanum, nuts, immature growths - Gastrointestinal tract affected by saponins.
• Buckthorn - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Burning Bush - Toxic if eaten, nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy.
• Buttercup, Ranunculus spp. - entire plant, juice may severely injure digestive system. Plant also causes dermatitis.
• Caladium -Upset stomach, oral irritation, asphyxiation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance.
• Calico Bush - Toxic if eaten, nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy.
  
• Calla lily, leaves - upset stomach, oral irritation, asphyxiation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance.
• Cannabis, cannabis sativa, the whole plant in all forms - it has a bitter taste and so generally avoided by animals, muscular weakness, salivation, vomiting, drowsiness, not generally fatal.
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• Castor bean, Ricinus communis L. - Entire Plant, highly toxic seeds contain toxalbumins. A single Rosary Pea or one to two Castor Bean seeds can cause death. Plant also causes dermatitis
• Charming dieffenbachia - mainly from the sap or the water that cuttings were in. Repeated vomiting and diarrhea. Recover after three days.
• Cherry Kernels plant is cyanogenic
• Cherry Laurel - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Chinese Lantern, Solanum spp. See Nightshade See Nightshade
• Christmas Cherry, Solanum spp See Nightshade See Nightshade
• Christmas Rose, entire plant - Upset stomach, diarrhea, seizures, disorientation. Cardiovascular system affected by the cardiac glycosides helleborin and helleborein. Plant also causes dermatitis.
• Chrysanthemum leaves and stems - May cause a rash after contact. May cause dermatitis.
  
• Clematis, entire plant -gastrointestinal tract and nervous system affected by plant toxins. Plant also causes dermatitis.
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• Cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium
• Colombine - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Common Nettle, urtica dioica - See Stinging Nettle
• Common St. Johns Wort, hypericum perforatum - See St. Johns Wort
• Common Stonecrop, sedum acre, the whole plant if eaten in large quantities - salivation, muscle tremors, rapid respiration, and coma.
• Cordatum
• Corn cockle - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Cuckoo pint - Nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy.
• Cutleaf philodendron - The whole plant causes diarrhea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten.
• Cyclamen Flowers - induced vomiting and skin reaction.
  
• Daffodil, Narcissus spp. , bulbs - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea caused by the alkaloid toxins. Plant also causes dermatitis.
• Daphne berries and seeds, but also entire plant - gastrointestinal tract and kidneys affected by coumarin glycosides. Plant also causes dermatitis.
• Dwarf Bay See Mezereon
• Deadly Nightshade, Solanum spp See Nightshade
• Delphinium, Delphinium spp. - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Dendrathema - May cause a skin allergy.
• Devils figs - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Devil's Ivy, (Philodendron) The whole plant - causes diarrhea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten. Upset stomach, mouth irritation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, asphyxiation, and death.
• Dracaena palm, Dumb cane, dieffenbachia - Upset stomach, oral irritation, asphyxiation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, death.
• Dutchman Breechs, Dicentra spp. See Bleeding Heart
• Dwarf Morning glory - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Easter lily - especially poisonous to cats.
• Echium - May cause a skin allergy.
• Elderberry Sambucus canadensis L., shoots, bark, and leaves. Entire plant. - nausea and vomiting. Plant is cyanogenic and may contain toxic levels of nitrates.
  
• Elephant ears, all parts - intense burning, irritation, and swelling of the mouth and throat. Death can occur if tongue swells enough to block air passage.
  
• English ivy, Hedera helix L., berries and leaves - gastrointestinal tract affected by saponins. Plant also causes dermatitis.
• Ergot, Claviceps purpurea - Causes abortions in humans and sheep, suggestions it would do the same in dogs.
• European spindle - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Exotica perfection dieffenbachia, mainly from the sap or the water that cutting were in. - Repeated vomiting and diarrhea and will recover after three days.
• False Acacia, Robinia pseudoacacia See Black Locust
• False Hellebore -Nausea and vomiting.
• Fescue, Festuca arundinaceae
• Flannel flower - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Flax - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea L. Entire plant - cardiovascular system affected by the glycosides digitalin and digitoxin. Gastrointestinal tract affected by saponins
• Fruit salad plant (philodendron) The whole plant causes - diarrhea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten.
• Gaultheria - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
  
• Geranium - Mild dermatitis
• German ivy, berries and leaves -gastrointestinal tract affected by saponins. Plant also causes dermatitis.
• German primula - Nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy.
• Giant dumb cane, mainly from the sap or the water that cutting were in. - Repeated vomiting and diarrhea, recover after three days.
• Glacier ivy, berries and leaves - gastrointestinal tract affected by saponins. Plant also causes dermatitis.
• Glory Lily - causing nausea and vomiting.
  
• Gold dieffenbachia, mainly from the sap or the water that cutting were in. - Repeated vomiting and diarrhea, will recover after three days.
• Golden Chain tree, entire plant especially bean-like capsules in which seeds are suspended - excitement, staggering, convulsions, and coma. Nervous system affected by the alkaloid cytisine
• Granny's bonnets - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Greater Burdock, Arctium lappa, burs - Symptoms burs to coats of dogs cause skin irritation, dogs remove burrs by licking and hooked scales penetrate the mucous membrane of mouth and tongue, ulceration, oral discomfort, salivation.
• Hahn's self-branching English ivy, berries and leaves - gastrointestinal tract affected by saponins. Plant also causes dermatitis.
• Heartleaf philodendron, the whole plant causes - diarrhea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten.
• Hemp, Cannabis sativa L. See Cannabis
• Henbane -Toxic if eaten, nausea and vomiting.
• Holly Berries - Upset stomach, tremors, seizures, loss of balance.
• Honeysuckle, lonicera periclymenum, plants and berries - vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy.
• Horse tail, Equisetaceace, the complete weed mainly affects horses and to a lesser extent cattle.
• Horse chestnut, Aesculus hippocastanum - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Horse head philodendron, the whole plant causes - -diarrhea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten.
• Hurricane plant, bulb - Varied toxic effects.
• Hyacinth, Hyacinth orientalis, bulb - gastrointestinal tract affected by alkaloid toxins. Plant also causes dermatitis.
• Indian rubber plant
• Iris, tubers - severe digestive upset. Gastrointestinal tract affected by the glycoside iridin. Plant also causes dermatitis.
• Ivy, araliaceae, whole plant - vomiting, diarrhea, excitement, muscular spasms, paralysis.
• Jack in the Pulpit, Arisaema spp., entire plant contains small crystals of calcium oxalate - causes burning to the mouth, can cause hallucinations.
• Japanese Show lily - especially poisonous to cats.
• Japanese Spindle - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Jessamine, berries and sap - Digestive disturbance. Gastrointestinal tract affected by solanine glycoalkaloids. The nervous system affected by atropine-like toxins.
• Jerusalem cherry, Solanum pseudocapsicum, immature growths - gastrointestinal tract affected by solanine glycoalkaloids. May contain toxic levels of nitrates. Plant may also cause dermatitis.
• Jimson Weed, Datura stramonium L., entire plant - abnormal thirst, distorted sight, delirium, incoherence, coma caused by the alkaloids atropine, scopolamine and hyoscyamine. May contain toxic levels of nitrates.
• Johnsongrass, Kingcup - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Lacy tree philodendron, the whole plant causes - diarrhea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten.
• Larkspur, young plants and seeds - digestive upset, nervousness, depression. Cardiovascular system affected by alkaloids including delphinine. Plant also causes dermatitis.
• Latana, Lantana camara L., green berries (immature) - affects lungs, heart, kidneys, and nervous system, affected by lantodene, an atropine-like toxin. Plant is also hepatogenic.
• Laurel - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Lenton rose - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Leopard lily - Nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy.
• Leyland cypress - May cause a skin allergy.
• Lily of the valley, Convallaria majalis, entire plant - irregular heart beat and pulse accompanied by digestive upset and mental confusion caused by the glycosides convallarin and convallamarin.
• Lobelia tupa - May cause a skin allergy.
• Locust, bark, sprouts, foliage - nausea and weakness.
• Lupine, Lupinus spp.
• Mallow - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Marsh Marigold - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
  
• Marble queen
  
• Marijuana, leaves and flower bracts plant contains the hallucinogens tetrahydro-cannabinols.
• May apple, Podophyllum peltatum L., apple, roots, foliage - severe diarrhea. Contains 16 active toxic agents, mainly in the roots. Nervous system affected by plant toxins, also causes hematological abnormalities. Powdered root may cause conjunctivitis and keratitis.
• Meadow rue - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Meadow Saffron - nausea and vomiting.
  
• Mexican breadfruit, (split leaf philodendron)
• Mezereon - could prove fata, lethargy, dizziness, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca L. - May cause a skin allergy.
• Mistletoe, berries, leaves, and stems. - Gastrointestinal tract affected by toxalbumins. Plant may also cause dermatitis. If ingested a few berries can be fatal to a puppy.
• Monkshood, entire plant, especially fleshy roots - digestive upset and nervous excitement. Cardiovascular system affected by alkaloid toxins.
• Moonseed Berries, resembles wild grapes, contains a single seed contains convulsant.
• Morning glory - upset stomach, hallucinations.
• Moroccan broom - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Mountain laurel - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Naked Lady Lilly, See Amaryllis
• Narissus, Narcissus spp., bulbs -nausea, vomiting, diarrhea caused by the alkaloid toxins. Plant also causes dermatitis.
  
• Needlepoint ivy, berries and leaves -gastrointestinal tract affected by saponins. Plant also causes dermatitis.
  
• Nightshade, Solanum spp., entire plant -intense digestive disturbances
• Oak tree, foliage and acorns, also the bark of the tree. Poisoning by oak is usually seasonal, being most common in spring when the young buds or leaves are eaten and the autumn when the acorns are eaten. Oak leaves and acorns contain tannic acid which is poisonous to horses and though eating a small number of leaves or acorns is almost certainly harmless, they can also be addictive, and once a horse has acquired a taste for them they can actively search them out. Also, some animals seem to be more susceptible to oak poisoning than others with individual animals having different levels of tolerance. -
  Oak poisoning causes gastroenteritis and kidney damage. Symptoms include: lack of appetite, staring coat, constipation followed by diarrhea which may be bloodstained, abdominal pain, depression, blood in urine. There is no antidote. The horse is treated with drugs to reduce the pain and control the diarrhea, antibiotics may be prescribed.
  
• Oleander, Nerium oleander L., leaves and branches. Entire plant and the water used for cut plants. - Affects the heart, produces severe digestive upset. Extremely poisonous, can cause death. Cardiovascular system affected by the glycosides oleandrin, oleandroside, and nerioside. Plant may also cause dermatitis.
  
• Onion - Onions should not be fed to dogs in any form. Cause anemia. Sometimes urine becomes red, enlarged kidneys, and degeneration of liver.
  
• Oriental lily - especially poisonous to cats.
• Ornamental Pepper, Solanum spp. See Nightshade
• Paspalum, sticky material from seeds - dermatitis.
• Pasque flower - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Peace lily, entire plant - gastrointestinal tract affected by plant toxins. Plant also causes dermatitis.
  
• Peach, both the stone and leaf contain cyanide. Plant is cyanogenic.
  
• Pencil cactus - similar to LSD, - hallucinogenic.
• Peruvian lily - May cause a skin allergy.
• Pineapple broom - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Poison Hemlock, Conium maculatum L., entire plant, (resembles a wild carrot) - nervous system affected by alkaloids including coniine, conidrine, and coniceine. May contain toxic levels of nitrates. Plant also causes dermatitis.
  
• Poinsettia, leaves stems and sap - Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, delirium. Sap can cause irritation, and if rubbed in eyes - BLINDNESS. Gastrointestinal tract affected by the toxin euphorbin, may contain toxic levels of nitrates. Plant also causes dermatitis.
  
• Poison ivy, Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze, leaves, bark, and fruit contain a variety of poisons. - May cause dermatitis.
  
• Poison oak, leaves, bark, and fruit contain a variety of poisons. - May cause dermatitis.
• Poison sumac - Can cause severe blistering dermatitis if they come into contact with skin.
• Poisonous Primula - Toxic if eaten. - nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy.
• Pokeroot -Toxic if eaten, causing vomiting and nausea.
• Poppy - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
  
• Pothos, the whole plant - causes diarrhea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten.
  
• Precatory bean, seeds - gastrointestinal tract affected by toxalbumins.
  
• Primrose (primula), leaves - Upset stomach and may cause dermatitis.
  
• Ragwort, Senecio jacobaea, Entire plant. A common yellow flowered weed found in rough pasture and in some lawns. It is highly toxic to a wide variety of animals, especially horses and cattle, usually digested when dead as it becomes more palatable. However a number of dogs die by eating a small amount whilst grazing on long grass. If you ensure that your lawns, etc are kept free of the weed, and keep a check on dog grazing, the plant is obvious so it can be done easily. - Causes kidney failure and liver damage and is irreversible. Minute doses fatal, often wrongly diagnosed. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids cause hepatic veno-occlusive disease (Budd-Chiari syndrome) in humans.
  

  Note: In UK this plant is notifiable to MAFF due to its toxicity to livestock. If you have it on your land, please dig it up and dispose of it by burning. Do not leave it lying around as its toxicity increases. It must be dug up as the seeds can stay in the ground for a number of years.

• Red Clover, trifolium pratense). See Alsike Clover Infertile problem with cattle. Red-ink plant - nausea and vomiting.
• Red Maple
• Rhododendron, Rhododendron spp., entire plant - nausea, vomiting, depression, difficulty breathing and coma.
• Rhubarb, Rheum Rhabarbarum, leaves large amounts of raw or cooked leaves can cause - convulsions, coma, and in extreme cases, death.
• Rosary Pea, Ricinus communis L. See Castor Bean
• Rosebay - nausea and vomiting.
• Rose periwinkle - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Rue - nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy.
• Saddle leaf philodendron, the whole plant - causes diarrhea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten.
• Satin pothos, the whole plant - causes diarrhea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten.
• Savin - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Schefflera - nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy.
• Senecio
• Silkweed - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Silver pothos, the whole plant - causes diarrhea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten.
• Solomon seal - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Spotted dumb cane, mainly from the sap or the water that cutting were in. - Repeated vomiting and diarrhea, will recover after three days.
• Spurge Flax See Mezereon
• Spurge Olive See Mezereon
• Spurge Laurel - nausea and vomiting. May cause a skin allergy.
• Squill - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Staggerweed
• Senecio jacobaea See Ragwort
• Star of Bethlehem - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Starflower - Harmful if eaten in quantity.
• Stinging nettle, urtica dioica, stinging hairs release active irritant substances into skin in very extreme cases - trembling, vomiting, difficulty in breathing, and weakness.
• St James Wort, Senecio jacobaea See Ragwort
• St Johns Wort, hypericum perforatum, complete plant - Symptom lesions develop on un-pigmented areas of skin exposed to sunlight - photosensitization.
• Subterranean Clover, trifolium subterranium See Alsike Clover
• Sweetheart ivy, berries and leaves - gastrointestinal tract affected by saponins. Plant also causes dermatitis.
  
• Swiss cheese plant, mainly from the sap or the water that cutting were in. - Repeated vomiting and diarrhea, will recover after three days, but not so severe.
• Tansy, Senecio jacobaea See Ragwort
• Taro vine, the whole plant - causes diarrhea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth irritated by plant raphides.
• Thorn Apple See Jimson weed
• Tiger lily - especially poisonous to cats.
• Tomato plant, green fruit, stem, and leaves.
• Tree philodendron, the whole plant - causes diarrhea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten.
• Tropic snow dieffenbachia, mainly from the sap or the water that cutting were in. - Repeated vomiting and diarrhea, will recover after three days.
• Tulip, Tulipa spp. - May cause a skin allergy.
• Variegated philodendron, the whole plant - causes diarrhea upon ingestion. Also causes dermatitis when touched. Causes burning sensation in mouth when eaten.
• Variegated rubber plant
• Varnish tree. Poisonous. - Can cause severe blistering dermatitis if they come into contact with skin.
• Water Hemlock, Cicuta maculata, entire plant especially the roots - violent painful convulsions, death caused by the convulsant cicutoxin.
• White Bryony, bryonia dioica mainly the roots, worse toxic when dried - possible increase in body temperature, rapid respiratory and heart rates.
• White Clover, trifolium repens See Alsike Clover - can suffer cyanide poisoning.
• Wild Cherry tree, twigs and foliage - gasping, excitement, prostration. Contains a compound that releases cyanide when eaten.
• Wild Pepper See Mezereon
• Wisteria, seeds, pods and entire plant - digestive upset caused by alkaloid toxins. Nausea, repeated vomiting, stomach pains, severe diarrhea, dehydration, and collapse.
• Wolfs bane - nausea and vomiting.
• Woody Nightshade - nausea and vomiting.
  
• Yew, berries, foliage - digestive disturbance. Dizziness, dry mouth and mydriasis develop within one hour, followed by abdominal cramping, salivation and vomiting. Foliage is more fatal than berries, death can be sudden without warning or symptoms.

Note: The author assumes no liability for the content. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you think your pet has ingested any of the following plants. This does not represent a complete list of all poisonous plants. Also, your pet may have a sensitivity or allergy to a plant that is not on the list, resulting in toxicity.

(03/23/2007)