Poisonous plants for dogs are many and varied. They cover everything from the food we eat to common household plants. Today, we’re going to talk about the most common foods and houseplants that are toxic to our dogs. That’s because if I went over all poisonous plants for dogs, you’d lose interest before you got near the end. I want to stress that this is not a complete list. If you Google poisonous plants, you’ll come up with over 400 plants which are toxic to dogs. Instead, we’ll cover the plants and foods that are most likely to be found in your home.
Related: Feed Your Dog THIS, not THAT!
The Most Common Poisonous Plants for Dogs
Some of the plants and foods on this list might surprise you. Some might not. We all know a few of these. But since so many of us have dogs that will literally put anything in their mouths knowing the plants and foods most commonly found in our homes which are dangerous to our dogs is important to their health and our piece of mind.
Aloe
Aloe may be used in all sorts of external and internal medicine for people, but it is toxic to both dogs and cat. Symptoms include vomiting, depression, diarrhea, anorexia, and change in urine color.
Apple
Apple can be a nice treat for your dog, but only the flesh is safe. Stems, leaves, and seeds contain cyanide, and while eating one core probably won’t result in a great danger, ingesting too much can be harmful. Symptoms include: brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, and shock.
Apricot
The dangers and symptoms are identical to the ones listed with apple stems, leaves, and seeds.
Bay Leaf
A tasty addition to our recipes, but toxic to dogs. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and obstruction if a large amount of whole leaves are ingested.
Black Walnut
The mold that grows on old nuts is toxic to dogs. Symptoms include tremors and seizures.
Citrus
Citrus plant as a whole can cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and potential sensitivity to light. The ASPCA states that eating small amounts, such as the fruit of one orange, is unlikely to cause problems beyond a mild upset stomach. The stems, leaves and peels, however, contain essential oils that can wreak havoc on your pet.
Lilies
Most lilies can cause oral irritation, intense mouth, tongue, and lip burning and irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
Caraway
This spice is another common one on the list of poisonous plants for dogs and can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Chives
Chives are commonly used in all sorts of dishes, and they are bad, bad, bad for dogs. A member of the onion family, chives cause vomiting, hemolytic anemia, bloody urine, weakness, high heart rate, and panting.
Clematis
A common decorative outdoor plant, Clematis can cause hypersalivation, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Daffodil
The Daffodil is a common spring flower, and it is extremely toxic to dogs, causing serious symptoms such as vomiting, salivation, diarrhea, convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors, and cardiac arrhythmias.
Dieffenbachia
This common houseplant can cause oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of the mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus makes the list of common poisonous plants for dogs because while not all of us have these plants in our homes, many of us do use the essential oil. Eucalyptus plants and their essential oils cause salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and weakness.
Garlic
Garlic, like plants in the onion family, can cause severe toxic issues like hemolytic anemia, vomiting, bloody urine, weakness, high heart rate, and panting. This is one of the most controversial entries on our list, as garlic has long been used in dog food and treats. While some researchers say that there is no safe amount, others say that dogs can safely ingest up to a certain amount depending on their body weight. Check out this article from PetGuide that breaks down the issue and explains how much garlic is too much. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and just skip it.
Geranium
Another commonly used plant in and outside of homes that is on the list of poisonous plants for dogs. This plant causes vomiting, anorexia, depression, and dermatitis.
Hibiscus
This beautiful plant isn’t so lovely when your dog eats it. It causes vomiting, diarrhea, and anorexia.
Hostas
One of the most commonly used shade plants in flower gardens, Hostas cause vomiting, diarrhea, and depression.
Hydrangea
This makes the list of poisonous plants for dogs because of how often it’s used in landscaping for pops of color. This plant causes vomiting, depression, diarrhea, and in some instances, cyanide intoxication.
Iris
The iris is beautiful but dangerous to your dog. It causes salivation, vomiting, drooling, lethargy, and diarrhea.
Ivy
That ivy that makes such a dramatic statement on homes is another on the list of poisonous plants for dogs. The leaves are more toxic than the berries. Symptoms include vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, and diarrhea.
Lavender
While lavender is typically safe for dogs, ingesting too much of the plant could cause mild GI upset. Ingesting concentrated essential oil can also cause tissue damage.
Leek
Like the other plants in the onion family, the leek causes vomiting, hemolytic anemia, bloody urine, weakness, high heart rate, and panting.
Macadamia Nut
This favorite nut makes the list of common plants poisonous for dogs because it’s found in so many recipes like cookies, which dogs are attracted to. Macadamia nuts cause depression, weakness in the limbs, especially the hindquarters, vomiting, and tremors.
Mint (only one type)
All species of mint are typically safe for dogs (when used in moderation, of course), except for the English or European Pennyroyal, can cause liver damage and organ failure if ingested in large amounts. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness. Perilla mint, which is not technically a member of the mint family but is used because of its minty flavor, is also toxic.
Onion
As mentioned with other plants in this family, onion causes hemolytic anemia, bloody urine, weakness, high heart rate, and panting.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a particularly nasty one on the list. It’s less severe symptoms include tremors and salivation. The major danger is kidney failure.
Tomato Plant
Found in almost every vegetable garden, the tomato plant causes hypersalivation, inappetence, severe GI upset, diarrhea, drowsiness, CNS depression, confusion, behavioral changes, weakness, dilated pupils, and slow heart rate.
Poisonous Plants for Dogs are More Common Than You Think
Poisonous plants for dogs are more common than most people think. So many things we keep in our kitchens for flavor, on our sills for color, or in our gardens can cause our dogs problems. With this list of the most common poisonous plants for dogs, you can better protect your pooch from major health issues.
