NOTE: If your pet ingests any poison (including certain house/outdoor plants and antifreeze.), immediate attention may be needed. Call your veterinarian or the National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPC) with the plant name & desciption, label information, etc. Have hydrogen peroxide or syrup of ipecac on hand to induce vomiting if necessary. The NAPC phone number is 1-800-548-2423 or 1900-680-0000 (The NAPC will charge a fee for Pet First Aid advice.)

jump to the plants' degrees of toxicity / side effects

A good friend of mine who is equally obsessed with both gardening and her two Chocolate Labs brought to my attention an article she recently read. It was a list, a rather long, detailed list, of plants considered poisonous to dogs. The one detail the article failed to include, however, was what to do with this valuable information. Do we dig up all of our plants and shrubs? Build high fences around them? Or maybe dig a moat so the dogs can't get to them?

I watched my friend standing forlornly among her gardens filled with various thriving shrubs and flowers, now supposedly "off limits" to her furry friends according to the list she found. As they sat playfully nipping at her gardening clogs, I grew determined to find out more about these so-called poisonous plants before she decided to move to another state and start all over. And what I have found is that like most things in life, that list isn't quite as black and white as it appears on paper. There are several shades of gray in-between; and those can make all the difference in our approach to the outdoor safety and well being of our treasured pets.

One of the first things a dog owner should look at is just how high of a risk these plants are to your dog. Consider your dog's age. Is he a puppy or full grown adult? Many, if not most, puppies make their way through the world by exploring and investigating everything orally. In other words, they love to chew, chew, chew! Most puppies grow out of this stage as they mature and stop teething. When they are outside, watch carefully to see if they are drawn to sticks, flowers, or tree leaves.

Another risk factor is your dog's penchant for plant chewing. Some dogs are just naturally drawn to plant leaves and flowers, regardless of their age, while others virtually ignore them. You know your dog best - you are the best judge of potential chewing problems. Many toxic plants rarely pose a threat because the majority of dogs just don't chew on them. They don't typically find these plants tempting or agreeable, and so avoid eating them, even if they are commonly found in their environment. So the age and tendencies of your dog play a great role in their safety.

Keep in mind also that dogs will have varying reactions to different plants, trees, and shrubs. Some will cause only a mild rash or itchiness, while contact with others result in more severe irritations such as facial and throat pain and swelling. This can turn fatal if the airway becomes blocked. Still other plants (though not as common) are extremely toxic and can quickly cause death from even the smallest exposure to them.

Toxic effects of plants, however, vary greatly between species and can change according to the status of a plant's health. Several important factors should be considered here. These include the time of year it is, the stage of a plant's growth, the conditions of growth (is the plant healthy and thriving, barely alive, dormant?), humidity, the age of a plant, and many other issues. Time of year is very significant; it can actually make all the difference in the toxicity of a plant. The level and concentration of poisons in a plant can easily change not only from year to year, but throughout the growing season. Environmental factors play a vital role throughout the year. Are you experiencing a drought? Has there been excessive moisture? There are just so many things to think about!

Unfortunately if your dog has been exposed to and poisoned by a plant, diagnosis can be difficult to pinpoint. The best way to verify diagnosis of toxic plant ingestion is often to find a specific plant physically present in the area your dog was. You need to properly identify the plant, then prove that the dog ingested it. Look for leaves or twigs that have been chewed on or near the plant itself, or collect stool or vomit samples and look for fragments there. Always bring anything you find with you to the veterinarian.

There are not many antibiotics available to cure plant poisoning. Usually the best thing to do is help quicken the elimination of the plant from the gastrointestinal tract. Symptomatic and supportive care follow once the poison leaves the dog's system. This should all be done under a veterinarian's care. If you've discovered the source of the poison, remove all dangerous plants from your property to prevent recurrence.

The above information does not contain all of the answers. As I found out, there rarely is one right or wrong approach to this problem. If you have plants on your property that have been there for a long period of time, and your dog pays no attention to them, you probably have nothing to worry about. If you find after reading this that your dog has a good risk of ingesting a potentially harmful plant, take the necessary steps to create a problem free environment for your pet. A little precaution, some common sense, and knowing your dog well can all work together to form a safe, happy home for everybody.

Below is a partial list of commonly found poisonous plants broken down into degrees of toxicity. If you have questions or concerns about a specific plant, contact your local florist or nursery and speak with your veterinarian for further information. Now I have to go give this article to my friend before she either turns her backyard to dirt, or puts a "For Sale" sign on her front lawn!

INDOOR/OUTDOOR

POISONOUS PLANTS:

A) Sometimes produce diarrhea, vomiting:
Poke weed
Daffodil
Castor bean
Indian turnip
Skunk cabbage
Delphinium
Fox glove
Bittersweet woody
Ground cherry
Larkspur
Wisteria

B) Causes rash or irritation after skin contact:
Chrysanthemum
Creeping fig
Poinsettia
Weeping fig
Pop mum
Spider mum

C) Irritating: Mouth may becomes swollen, sore lips, tongue pain:
Arrowhead vine
Boston ivy
Drunk cane
Caladium
Emerald duke
Philodendron
Pathos
Red princess

D) Toxic - may cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps. Some can cause tumors, heart and respiratory and/or kidney problems.
Amaryllis
Asparagus fern
Azalea
Bird of Paradise
Creeping Charlie
Crown of Thorns
Elephant ears
Glocal ivy
Heart ivy
Pot mum
Spider mum
Umbrella plant

E) Trees and shrubs that may produce abdominal pain and diarrhea:
House chestnut buckeye
American yew
English yew
Western yew
English holly
Privet
Mock orange
Black locust
Balsam pear
Peach, cherry
Apricot, almond
Japanese plum
Black locust

F) Hallucinogens:
Marijuana
Morning glory
Nutmeg
Periwinkle
Peyote
Loco Week

G) Cause convulsions:
China berry
Coriaria
Moonweed
Water hemlock

H) Plants with varied toxic effects:
Rhubarb
Spinach
Tomato vine
Lupine
Buttercup
Poison hemlock
Mushrooms
May apple
Mescal bean
Dutchman's breeches
Jasmine
Matrimony vine