Garden Hazards
There are many plants commonly found in gardens which could prove lethal to dogs and especially puppies (who chew everything). Below is a list of some of those plants with the effects they can have if consumed.
| Plant Name | Poisonous Part | Effects |
| AZALEA
|
Entire plant | Paralysis of the muscles, including the heart. Depression of central nervous system. Sometimes fatal. |
| BIRD OF PARADISE | Seed pods | Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea |
| BUTTERCUP & RANUNCULUS |
Entire plant | Stomach irritation/diarrhoea/convulsions |
| CALLA LILY | Entire plant | Intense burning sensation/ irritation of the mouth and stomach |
| CASTOR BEAN | Entire plant but especially the seeds | Burning sensation in the mouth. Eating two or more seeds may cause serious illness/death |
| DAFFODIL | Bulb | Severe vomiting and diarrhoea, trembling, convulsions and sometimes death |
| DAPHNE | Entire plant | Burning and ulceration of stomach and intestines, bloody vomiting and diarrhoea |
| ENGLISH IVY | Leaves/berries | General excitement, difficulty breathing/coma |
| HOLLY | Berries | Vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness/collapse |
| IRIS | Leaves, roots & fleshy portions |
Severe but temporary digestive upset |
| JERUSALEM CHERRY | Berries | Vomiting, diarrhoea and collapse |
| LANTANA | Berries | Gastro-intestinal irritation/muscular weakness/ circulatory difficulties, sometimes fatal |
| OLEANDER | Entire Plant | Nausea, depression, bloody diarrhoea, weakened and irregular pulse and Paralysis |
| POINSETTIA | Leaves/stem | Diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, delirium. Sap can cause skin irritation. If rubbed in eyes, blindness |
| POISON OAK | Leaves | Skin irritation |
| PRIVET | Entire plant | Bloody vomiting, diarrhoea, severe irritation of the digestive tract, general nervous symptoms |
| RHUBARB | Leaves | Vomiting, severe abdominal pain, muscle cramps and in large quantities, convulsions/coma/death |
| WISTERIA | Entire plant | Severe vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea |
| YELLOW JASMINE | Entire plant | Thirst/ dilated pupils/reddened skin/headache |
Toxic Foods For Dogs
Items to avoid |
Reasons to avoid |
|---|---|
|
Alcoholic beverages |
Can cause intoxication, coma, and death. |
|
Baby food |
Can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs. (Please see onion below.) Can also result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts. |
|
Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources |
Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system. |
|
Cat food |
Generally too high in protein and fats. |
|
Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous systems. |
|
|
Can cause vomiting. |
|
|
Fat trimmings |
Can cause pancreatitis. |
|
Contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys. |
|
|
Hops |
Unknown compound causes panting, increased heart rate, elevated temperature, seizures, and death. |
|
Human vitamin supplements containing iron |
Can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys. |
|
Large amounts of liver |
Can cause Vitamin A toxicity, which affects muscles and bones. |
|
Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle. |
|
|
Can depress the nervous system, cause vomiting, and changes in the heart rate. |
|
|
Milk and other dairy products |
Some adult dogs and cats do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk products are available for pets. |
|
Can contain multiple toxins causing vomiting and diarrhea and can also affect other organs. |
|
|
Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death. |
|
|
Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, or powder) |
Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia.Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than onions. |
|
Persimmons |
Seeds can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis. |
|
Pits from peaches and plums |
Can cause obstruction of the digestive tract. |
|
Potato, rhubarb, and tomato leaves; potato and tomato stems |
Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. This is more of a problem in livestock. |
|
Raw eggs |
Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella. |
|
Raw fish |
Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly. |
|
Salt |
If eaten in large quantities it may lead to electrolyte imbalances. |
|
String |
Can become trapped in the digestive system; called a "string foreign body." |
|
Sugary foods |
Can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus. |
|
Table scraps (in large amounts) |
Table scraps are not nutritionally balanced. They should never be more than 10% of the diet. Fat should be trimmed from meat; bones should not be fed. |
|
Tobacco |
Contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. Can result in rapid heart beat, collapse, coma, and death. |
|
Yeast dough |
Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines. |
