This week marks one year since we got our puppy, Lilly. Every day has been an absolute joy and it has been like having another child around the house. However, it has also been a year of learning! Being a first-time dog owner meant discovering what to feed her, how to train her and how to keep her safe and healthy.
Who knew that this would extend to the kinds of plants and flowers dog owners can have around their home and garden, too? According to James Wellbeloved, who are natural pet food specialists, a high number of common UK house and garden plants are actually very toxic to dogs. And unfortunately, many dogs can’t resist digging up and eating them.
Luckily (and unluckily) for us, Lilly much prefers to the taste to our furniture than the plants growing in the garden. However, if your pup has a penchant for plants, or you have a breed of dog that likes to dig up the garden (Labradors are common offenders), then you might want to consider avoiding the following common UK plants and flowers.
Autumn Crocus
Despite being associated with having medicinal benefits for humans, Autumn Crocus has the equivalent effect on dogs as consuming arsenic. Unfortunately, there is no known cure if your dog consumes this plant, so it is best to avoid is completely.
Grape vine
The grapes from Grape Vine are attractive for many dogs but are as toxic as they are tempting. Just a small amount can cause urinary tract disorders or, worse still, acute kidney failure.
Hyacinths & Tulips
Hyacinths and Tulips are from the same family and, so, are equally toxic to dogs. Vomiting and irritation in and around the mouth are common symptoms, but they can be even more dangerous if consumed in large amounts.
Azaleas & Caladium
Although not as poisonous as Hyacinths or Tulips, both Azaleas and Caladium make for attractive house and garden plants, whose bright colours and striking patterns are too tempting for some dogs to resist. While it would take ingesting a great deal to put your dog’s life at risk, both of these plants can quickly cause an upset tummy and an irritated mouth and throat.
Potatoes
While growing your own food is admirable and should be encouraged, dog owners should either avoid potatoes or grow them in a secure place where your dog cannot reach them. The entire plant is highly toxic and growing them in the ground means dogs have easy access to them.
Oleander
Despite being a popular ornamental plant for inside or outside the home, Oleander is so poisonous that just a few leaves can be lethal even to large mammals, let alone dogs. Even if you feel sure your dog isn’t the sort to eat plants or flowers, it really isn’t worth the risk to keep Oleander.
Most dogs either don’t eat plants or eat so few that symptoms of poisoning are either minor or entirely non-existent. However, as responsible owners, it is still important to ensure your home and your garden are as safe as they can be for your pets. They are part of the family, after all.
