Garden Plant Safety

With Spring right around the corner, some of us are already thinking about what to plant in our gardens.  Whether you are planting vegetables or flowers, you need to be aware that some plants are not safe for our dogs.  If you have a dog that eats grass, they may be attracted to garden plants and flowers too. 

Some of the vegetables that are not safe for your furry friends, are Chives, Garlic, Leeks, Onions, Shallots, Rhubarb and Tomato vines and leaves.  If your pup ingests any of the above plants or plant leaves, it could suffer some serious side effects.  Some of these side effects are drooling, nausea, oral irritation (including pale gums), vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and abdominal pain (Source: Petpoison Helpline). 

A wide variety of flowers are also toxic to your furbaby.  These include Begonias, Laceflowers, Bleeding Hearts, Crocus Flowers (not all varieties), Buttercups, Chrysanthemums, Clematis, Iris, Hostas, Geraniums and Sweetpeas.  If your pup decides to have a snack in your flower garden, they may experience side effects including drooling, nausea, vomiting, irregular heart rate, dilated pupils, tremors, seizures, lethargy and heavy salivation (Source: Petpoison Helpline).  

Who doesn’t love fresh vegetables or a beautiful garden?!  Just be cautious when choosing what to plant.  Have a great Spring!! 

NOTE:  The content of this blog is not veterinary advice. A number of factors, including the amount of substance ingested, the size of your pup, allergies, etc., determine what is toxic to a particular pet. If you think your pet has eaten something potentially toxic, please seek immediate veterinary treatment.