Last updated 7/13/2000 cdlcReprinted in part from Pyr News and Notes, July 1968.
Originally compiled from "Plants Toxic to Dogs AKC Gazette, June 1968 and
"Please Don't Eat the Posies", Pennsylvania SPCA
This is not meant as an all-inclusive list, however if you know your pup is a "chewer", you might want to remove, or fence off, any of the following plants. Remember that these plants are poisonous to children too.
If you suspect that your dog has eaten something poisonous, information as to what the substance was can be invaluable to your vet as a guide to treatment. No list of this kind can be complete - it only attempts to list the more common home garden species of toxic plants. Remember too that toxicity can vary with such things as time of year, age of dog and amount consumed.
NOTE: Since most of the illustrations were links external to thispage, and many are no longer valid, see Cornell University Poisonous Plants web site for illustrations. If broken links are found, please notify Catherine de la Cruz, Webmistress
| Very Toxic | Toxic | Parts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| . | Algae | pond scum | |
| . | Autumn crocus | bulb | |
| . | Avocado | leaves, bark and seeds | |
| Azalea | .. | all parts | |
| . | Black eyed Susan | all parts | |
| . | Buckeye | plant and nuts | |
| . | Buttercups | all parts | |
| Castor Beans | . | seeds | |
| . | Chinaberry Tree | berries | |
| . | Chokeberry | wild cherries | |
| . | Cocklebur | seeds and seedlings | |
| . | Common Box | leaves | |
| Daffodil | . | bulb | |
| Daphne | . | bark, leaves, esp berries | |
| . | Delphinium | ||
| Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia) | . | leaves | |
| . | Elderberry | all parts except berry | |
| . | English Ivy | leaves and berries | |
| Foxglove | . | leaves | |
| Hemlock, Poison | . | shoot, roots | |
| . | Horse Chestnut | seeds | |
| . | Hyacinth | bulb | |
| Hydrangia | leaves, bark | ||
| . | Iris | rhizomes | |
| . | Jeruselum cherry | fruit | |
| Jimson Weed (Datura) | . | seeds | |
| Larkspur | . | young plants and seeds | |
| . | Lilly of the Valley | leaves and flowers | |
| . | Lupines | entire plant | |
| Milkweeds | |||
| Mistletoe | . | berries | |
| Monkshood | leaves and roots | ||
| . | Mountain laurel | leaves | |
| Mushroom: Amanita | white gills, bulbous swelling at bottom, veil or ragged skirt around stem | LETHAL TO HUMANS TOO | |
| Narcissus | bulbs | . | |
| . | Nicotiana Tree Tobacco | leaves, stems | |
| . | Nightshades | . | |
| Oleander | . | leaves, bark | |
| Onion, raw | . | raw onion is toxic to dogs | |
| . | Philodendron | leaves | |
| . | Poinciana | pods | |
| Poincettia | . | leaves | |
| . | Rhododendron | leaves, bark | |
| Rhubarb | . | leaves | |
| . | Star of Bethlehem | . | |
| . | Wisteria | pods | |
| Yew | . | foliage and berries |
Although not a plant in the form we generally have it, chocolate is toxic to dogs in amounts depending on their size. As little as four ounces of milk chocolate can be toxic for a small dog or pup. Unsweetened bakers chocolate is more toxic and all chocolate should be kept out of the reach of dogs.
Don't give your dog a human medication unless specifically prescribed by a veterinarian. Many medications have different or more severe side effects for dogs than for humans. Keep all detergents, cleansers and bleach in high or locked cabinets. Do not store automobile anti-freeze anywhere on your property - a very small amount can cause fatal liver failure. Keep all pesticides, garden sprays and snail bait in high, locked cupboards safe from children and animals.
Ask your veterinarian what to keep as an emetic in case your dog does swallow something toxic; ask for exact instructions as to dosage, and which poisons NOT to give an emetic for. Keep your veterinarian's number, and the number of your emergency clinic prominently displayed by your telephones.
For additional information on poisonous plants, see the
University of Arizona, School of Pharmacy, Poison Control Center poisonous plant list and the
Cornel University Poisonous Plants page
