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Plant Hazards to Dogs
The ingestion of certain plants by pets can also be a cause of illness. While in many cases animals appear to be unaffected or suffer little more than gastrointestinal upset after eating plant vegetation that they should not, there have been a few reported cases where more severe symptoms have occurred.
In assessing the potential risk to your pets from toxic plants, it is important to consider both the age of your pet and it's tendency to chew on plants. Many of the toxic plants mentioned below, rarely cause problems because most pets do not
generally chew on them, with the exceptions being, perhaps, young puppies and kittens, who that enjoy exploring and chewing on things, as well as perhaps older dogs.
Past studies have shown that in the months from August to December there is generally an increase in the number of enquiries UK Veterinary Practices receive concerning the ingestion by pets of conkers, acorns and yew in particular. The autumn months are generally when trees and bushes are shedding their leaves and seed cases/fruits and when dogs, and sometimes other animals, seem all too keen to try something new or different to eat.
Horse chestnuts/Conkers: The Horse Chestnut is a large deciduous tree, commonly found in parks and urban areas and its seeds, the horse chestnuts or “conkers”, usually ripen from August to October. If conkers are eaten in large quantities by dogs, for example, the animals can develop dramatic sickness and diarrhea and excessive salivation within an hour or so of eating the conkers. There have also been a few isolated cases where plant material or actual whole conker has obstructed the gastrointestinal tract. Fortunately, for animals that show signs related to the ingestion of large numbers of conkers they often respond well to supportive veterinary treatment and care. In the infrequent cases where obstruction is suspected, surgical removal of impacted plant material may be necessary.
Oak - acorns: The Oak tree is well known for its production of acorns, which often appear in the autumn months. If pets, such as dogs, happen to eat acorns in large numbers, the result can be severe diarrhea and vomiting. These signs occur because of a substance called ‘tannic acid’ in the acorns. Similar to accidental ingestion of conkers, if eaten by dogs, there can also be a risk of gastrointestinal obstruction by the acorn nut.
Yew: The Yew tree, commonly found in many churchyards and parks, which are popular places for walking dogs, is well known for its poisonous nature. If dogs accidentally eat parts of the plant, vomiting, diarrhea and profuse salivation, together with lethargy and in-coordination, can be seen soon after ingestion. Symptomatic and supportive veterinary care is necessary following accidental ingestion.
Other common plants, which have been involved in reported cases of illness in pets following ingestion, include:
Daffodils: Daffodils are perennial plants and if mistakenly eaten by pets, such as dogs, the pet may rapidly become unwell and show signs including vomiting, diarrhea, salivation and lethargy. In severe cases, in-coordination and collapse may be seen. Veterinary advice should be sought immediately if ingestion by pets is thought to have occurred.
Honeysuckle: There are numerous different species of honeysuckle and although accidental ingestion of this plant by pets can cause mild gastrointestinal effects, such as vomiting and diarrhoea, the plant is considered of low toxicity. However, veterinary advice should be obtained if pets have mistakenly eaten the plant.
Ivy: Ivy is a woody evergreen creeping plant that grows along the ground and up walls and trees. Ingestion of small quantities of material from this plant can result in mild gastrointestinal effects only. However, veterinary advice should be obtained if pets have mistakenly eaten the plant.
Holly: Holly is a common evergreen shrub. Accidental ingestion of the berries can result in gastrointestinal effects (salivation, vomiting and diarrhea) in cats and dogs. Veterinary advice should be obtained if pets have mistakenly eaten the plant.
Rowan: Rowan, or Mountain Ash, is a deciduous tree common throughout the UK. The berries are orange-red, or sometimes yellow, and develop and ripen from August onwards, often remaining on the plant until December. If accidentally eaten by animals, vomiting, diarrhea and salivation may be seen. Veterinary advice should be obtained if pets have mistakenly eaten the plant.
Leopard Lily: The Dieffenbachia species (for example, Leopard Lily or Dumb Cane) are popular houseplants. However, if pets chew and bite the leaves of these plants, substances produced by the plant are irritant to the pet’s mouth can result in common signs of increased salivation, vomiting and diarrhea. Veterinary treatment should be sought immediately as in severe cases fatalities have been reported in cats.
Christmas Cherry: The Christmas or Winter Cherry is a common houseplant, which produces round berries. If accidentally eaten by pets, vomiting, diarrhea and salivation can be seen. Veterinary advice should be sought in cases of suspected ingestion by pets.
Your garden may also contain cultivated plants that may cause illness if accidentally eaten by small animals such as:
PLANT
| POSSIBLE CLINICAL PROBLEM IN RABBITS IF INGESTED
| Deadly nightshade
| cardiovascular problems, fatal
| Elder
| gastrointestinal upset, salivation, toxic
| Lily of the valley
| gastrointestinal upset, cardiovascular problems, toxic
| Woody nightshade
| gastrointestinal upset, skin allergy, fatal
| Lobelia
| salivation, toxic
| Rhododendron
| gastrointestinal upset, salivation, toxic
| Fox glove
| gastrointestinal upset, cardiovascular problems, toxic
| Ivy
| skin allergy, cardiovascular problems, toxic
| Iris
| gastrointestinal upset, salivation, toxic
| Privet
| cardiovascular problems, gastrointestinal upset, toxic
| Yew
| gastrointestinal upset, fatal
| Lupin
| gastrointestinal upset, salivation, toxic
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Others poisonous agents:
Other commonly found substances that are poisonous to pets, such as dogs and cats, if accidentally eaten include:
Pesticide poisonings:
Rodenticides:
Another group of substances frequently involved in pet poisoning cases are the anticoagulant rodenticides. They are frequently scavenged by dogs and, although few animals may show clinical signs of the poisoning, there are still reported cases where prolonged veterinary treatment with vitamin K1 and sometimes even blood transfusions are required. Occasional cases have even been reported where poisonings have occurred as a result of ingestion of rodents killed with these baits. If you are concerned that your pet may have eaten a rodenticide, contact your veterinary surgery immediately.
Slug pellets and ant killers:
Metaldehyde, the active ingredient of most types of slug pellets, is a frequent cause of fatalities in pets. Although many slug pellets may have animal-repelling additives, the pellets still prove attractive to dogs, in particular, and ingestion may rapidly cause symptoms, including convulsions. It is important that veterinary attention for the pet is immediately sought if ingestion by your pet is thought to have occurred. It is absolutely vital that pet owners are aware of the potential risks of the products and warned to keep their animals well away from recently treated ground.
The same precautions should be taken for liquid or gel ant killers that contain borax. While not intrinsically very toxic, these products are frequently ingested by dogs and cats which appear to find them palatable as they are often rather sugary. If accidentally ingested, the animals usually experience salivation and gastrointestinal irritation. Veterinary advice should be obtained as soon as possible.
Paraquat (a herbicide):
A frequent cause of animal fatalities is paraquat, the toxicity of which is well documented. It is vital that the animal is presented to a veterinary surgery promptly.
Miscellaneous:
Blue Green Algae:
Problems with blue green algae usually occur following prolonged hot dry spells and often in association with high phosphate and nitrate levels in water. Fish can take up toxic amounts without being affected. Animals that may be affected are usually dogs which have been swimming in stagnant water or in pond water where the algae are blooming in fair, windless conditions. Swallowing of contaminated water or subsequent ingestion on grooming can result in toxicity. The toxic effects that may be seen in affected animals are variable but can include vomiting, salivation, muscle tremors, dullness and staggering. Fatalities have been reported to occur. Veterinary treatment should be sought immediately. It is important to keep animals away from infected water.
Onions:
Onions, especially raw onions, have been shown to trigger haemolytic anaemia
in dogs.
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