Poisonous plants for dogs; beware! 

It can happen to any dog owner: you are outside on an adventure and suddenly you see your dog taking a bite of a plant. Fortunately, many plants in Dutch nature are not harmful to your four-legged friend, but since there are also a number of plants that are toxic to dogs, it is important to always be alert. Which plants are poisonous for dogs and what should you do if your dog has eaten a poisonous plant? We tell you more about it in this blog.

Why does my dog eat plants?

There are several reasons why dogs eat plants. First, curious dogs may show interest in plants because of their shape or smell. With puppies and young dogs, extra care is needed. This is because puppies and young dogs explore the world through their mouths. The chances of them taking a bite out of a plant are therefore high. In addition, dogs can eat plants out of boredom. With long-haired dogs, it is also important to be extra vigilant. This is because plants can get stuck in their fur. If they find this annoying, they may try to remove the plants themselves from their fur and in this way ingest the plant as well.

Another reason for eating plants may be stomach upset. Is your dog not feeling well? Then he may be eating a plant to ensure that he can vomit.

If your dog's diet consists of home-cooked meals or fresh meat, it is possible that essential vitamins or minerals are missing from the diet. A consequence of this is that dogs will look for plants of their own to eat to make up for these deficiencies.

Which plants are toxic for dogs?

Despite the fact that there are many plants that are dangerous to dogs, not all of them are so toxic that they are immediately fatal to a dog. Indeed, it depends on how much your dog has eaten of this plant and thus ingested. It may also be that the plant itself is not so poisonous, but the petals, seeds or fruits, for example, are dangerous for your dog. It is therefore important to be aware of which plants are toxic to your four-legged friend. Below is a list of poisonous plants for dogs:

Hydrangea

Boxwood

Geranium

Eucalyptus

Ivy

Blue/yellow monkshood

Lily

Orchid

Wood anemone

Foxglove

Thuja

Golden Rain

Rhodendron

Juniper

Chrysanthemum

Cedar

Hyacinth

Hogweed

Yew (conifer)

Miracle tree

Lily of the valley

Thorn apple

Bilzewort

Tulip

Cherry laurel

Daffodil

Buttercup

Jacob's wort

Spotted arum

Wolfberry

Rose

Larkspur

Crocus

Aloe Vera

Monstera

Amaryllis

Mushrooms

Grape

Fig tree

Wisteria

Garlic (shallot, onion, leek, chives, etc.)

Lupin

Please note that these are the most common plants in the Netherlands. Therefore, this list is not exhaustive.

What happens when my dog eats a toxic plant?

Every plant has its own type of poison that protects against, say, an animal's bite. When a dog has eaten from a poisonous plant, these toxins enter your animal's bloodstream and can cause nasty damage to the organs. The symptoms that poisonous plants cause vary from plant to plant and thus also depend on how much your dog has ingested. However, symptoms often appear soon after ingestion. The symptoms that generally occur most often and fit a poisoning by a plant are:

• Stomach and bowel problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea;
• Palpitations;
• Cramping, paralysis and muscle tremors;
• Shortness of breath;
• Skin and coat irritations.

First aid for poisoning, what should you do?

Has your dog eaten a poisonous plant or do you suspect it has eaten from a poisonous plant? Then it is important that you take action quickly, even if no signs of poisoning are visible yet. Always contact your veterinarian and when possible, bring the plant in question with you or take a picture of the plant, so that the veterinarian can find out what type of poison it is and treat the poisoning purposefully.

How do you prevent your dog from eating plants?

Besides there are dogs that are interested in plants out of curiosity, boredom is also a cause for eating plants. Therefore, always make sure that your dog has enough physical exercise and you also challenge him enough mentally. A fun way to mentally challenge your dog is through brain work. You can read exactly what brainwork entails in this blog.

In addition to exercise and mental challenge, it is also important that your dog can regularly satisfy his chewing needs. Chewing helps fight boredom, but also reduces stress and is good for your dog's teeth. View Riverwood's full range of natural chew snacks here.

Does your dog's diet consist of home-cooked meals or fresh meat? If so, essential vitamins or minerals may be missing from the diet. Always make sure your dog's diet is complete and contains all the daily recommended amounts of nutrients, vitamins, minerals and trace elements. View Riverwood's full range of dog foods here.

If the above points do not apply and your dog still continues to show interest in eating plants during a walk, you can solve this with training. Make it clear to your dog that plants are not food and distract him with snacks. Training takes time, but eventually your dog will understand that he should leave plants alone and the chance of him eating (poisonous) plants will be reduced.

Lots of dogs are already enjoying Riverwood every day. Would you also like your dog to feast on our delicious foods and are you curious which variety would suit your dog best? Then answer a few questions here and order an inexpensive sample pack right away.