Plants That Are Poisonous To Dogs
There is an old saying that “a dog is man’s best friend”. When we look at the loyalty of our four-legged friends it is so amazing how dogs are so loyal. This has been my experience with many dogs that I brought up from puppies to adults.
No matter what size or what breed they are we can all agree that a dog will never leave our side. It’s so funny to see how happy they become and how they display such affection after we return home from a long day out.
I had a dog at one time that was so happy when I returned home he would run excitedly back and forth in the yard jumping up and down wagging his tail, no wonder why our furry friends are loved by so many because of the love they show in their own way.
Our pets Curiosity
There is another age saying that goes like this “curiosity kills the cat”. Just as cats are so curious it is the same with dogs, sometimes being curious and playful can bring harm that has been the misfortune of so many pet owners.
In this article, we will be looking at plants that should not be apart of our garden especially for us who are the proud owners of one of man’s best friends.
Plants That Are Poisonous For Dogs
As a landscape designer, I know the thrill and excitement of having a beautifully designed landscape and garden. There is nothing like having a garden that is just bursting with colors that are so inviting giving such a restful and relaxing experience.
But as exciting as we may be about having this kind of garden oasis we should always bear in mind that with pets present we should pay close attention to what we plant in our garden. What’s the point of having a beautiful garden that has plants that are poisonous to our pets causing much harm.
Plants That Are Poisonous For Dogs
Here is a list of plants that are used by many homeowners that should be avoided from the home garden. Let’s do our part to make sure that our furry friends are safe at all times.
Plant list
Plants to exclude from our home garden
These are just a few of the many that are listed here.
1. Kalanchoes are very beautiful succulents. There are many varieties that just burst with colors and can bring that wow to your garden. But if this plant is ingested by your dog can cause your dog to vomit and in some cases, extreme even die.
2. Tulips are another plant that can really brighten up your garden with their rainbow of colors. I really love these plants because of how elegant they are, but with this beauty also comes a word of caution. Once eaten and ingested can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
If possible avoid using these plants in your garden design. It is just so amazing to see plants that are so beautiful as these can really do a number on our pets.
3. Oleanders are very beautiful plants that come in an array of colors. I remembered the five-star resort that I worked at many years ago had to remove all of the oleander plants that were installed by the seal holding area
The unfortunate thing was that one of the seals ate the leaves and died. These plants though beautiful are very poisonous and should be kept out of the reach of children that can be curious also. As for dogs, these plants are a NO-NO.
4. Lilies are one of my favorites that can really bring that BANG to our garden area. I have worked with these plants over the years and have been impressed at how well they perform. There are many species of this plant that comes in a variety of colors that is truly amazing.
But as beautiful as they are they should be avoided if you have your pet around. Dogs that ingest these leaves show signs of vomiting above other symptoms.
5. Dieffenbachia also is known as dumb cane, is a very popular plant that is often used for interior plantscape decoration. I have worked with these plants over the years and what I can say is that this plant acts as a specimen plant as long as it is full.
Dieffenbachia is very fragile so caution should be taken when handling this plant, but for those with pets, this is not the ideal plant because of its Poisonous effect which involves vomiting, drooling, and so on. To avoid this from happening to your dog avoid this plant at all costs.
6. I love sago palms because of their uniqueness. This palm can act as a specimen plant and can really enhance the appearance of your landscapes and gardens. The leaf of this palm is a solid green color and the leaf itself is very tuff.
But unfortunately, Sago Palms have been known to cause liver damage in dogs if ingested so you would really want to keep this plant away from your pet
7. ZZ plants also known as the easy plant are a very tuff desert type plant that can survive on very little. ZZ plants are mostly used for interiorscape purposes. I have had many opportunities to work with this plant.
The leaves of z z plants are somewhat soft and glossy. This low maintenance plant is non-fussy and can do very well as a garden plant but like the other plants that appear on the list of plants that can poison our dogs
ZZ also appears on this list. Signs of poisoning include a drop in the dog’s appetite, vomiting, and in really severe condition death. So stay clear of this plant even though it is good for our gardens.
8. Dracaenas are great to work with, their slender stems make them easy to fit in some of the tightest places. As an interior plantscape designer many years ago this was one of the plants that were most ordered for the interior.
Dracaenas are low maintenance and do very well indoors even though this plant can also survive within the landscapes and garden areas. Dracaenas may give your bang for your$$$$$$
But will poison your pet when ingested. Signs of poisoning include a decrease in appetite, vomiting, and drooling.
9. Gardenias are very beautiful, in fact, I have a small tree that grows in my yard but at present, I don’t have any pets and the children are all grown. I just love the milk-white flower that causes this plant to be in my opinion a show stopper.
when gardenias are in full bloom they can really have heads turning because of their beauty. But don’t let the beauty of this pant fool you because gardenias have proven to be fatal to animals that ingest them.
Signs of poisoning are among the following. Nausea and Vomiting.
10. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) are very exotic plants with their beautiful white flowers that can really bring much flavor to your garden and landscapes. The peace lily is high-maintenance and requires some attention but
for those with pets, this plant is a no-no though beautiful can cause much harm. Signs of poisoning include drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing irritation of the mouth.
Final word
These are just a few of the many plants to stay away from in order to keep your animals safe. So the next time you think of installing a plant in your garden make sure that that plant is pet-friendly.
About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.
Lots of great information here! I had heard that dumb cane can be harmful to pets, but I had no idea about those other plants.
I had a cat that got really sick and died after we moved to a new area, but I was not aware that all of these plants were harmful to dogs as well.
Thank you for posting this information Norman.
Oh no! I love gardening and I would hate to think that I would plant something, spend all that time nurturing it and fertilizing it and then poof! one day it turns out its poisonous and now the dog is dead. Yikes!! Think of the look on the kids faces!!
I think this article is very helpful and I am glad I came across it. Unfortunately I do not live in the tropics and I couldn’t relate to several of the plants listed. Are you able to provide a “growing guide” / temperate climate guide so I can see if I think they are growing anywhere near my neighbourhood and my dogs? Many thanks
Hello GBIG it is so sad to invest time and money into these beautiful plants only for them to bring much harm. Yes. Just for you i will put together a growing guide of some plants that may grow but if you don’t mind I would love for you to drop me and email providing me with information of your zone. have a good day and i am so happy that I could help.
Your article on poisonous plants for dogs was an eye opener, and I wondered if these same plants are bad for people, cats, and other animals as well? Your use of plant images provided just the right amount of color for your article, balancing color and text very well. Thanks for this educational article. I have a cat and will use your article to keep the bad plants out of his way!
Hello Tanya so good to hear from you. It is just so amazing to see that these beautiful plants can be so harmful. I will also be writing and article God’s willing about plants that are not good for cats so please be on the lookout for this article.
We ought to be careful also because I have heard some person say that the sap from oleanders irritates the skin. I am so happy that I could help, have a good day.
Good afternoon Norman,
After reading your informative article I started thinking if I have some of these plants in my garden. Yes, I indeed have. The whole entrance to the property, on each side of the road leading to the house, has beautiful oleanders.
You see I live in the south of Spain in a Finca=farm house of 180-years-old. I have always had animals, cats and dogs and luckily up till now I have never observed an incident with this poisonous plant, I will keep my fingers crossed.
Thank you for alerting me to this possible problem.
Regards, Taetske
Hello so nice to meet you and it seems based on what you said your property is very beautiful and with the age home this just adds to the overall appeal, sounds to me like you have a graden paradise how wonderful. It is so good to know that your animals have not ventured upon these plants and I pray that they all stay safe. I am so happt that I could help. All the best of success to you and have a good day.
I had no idea these plants were poisonous to dogs. I have some of them in my yard today. They won’t be there tomorrow. Thanks for the info.