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Poisonous Outdoor Plants for Dogs to Avoid

November 18, 2019 by Mary Telesz

Every dog owner knows that dogs love to explore with their noses and their mouths. Some dogs are more curious than others about things that catch their attention. And plants are just the kind of curiosity they like to check out. Unfortunately, some plants are poisonous and can cause serious illnesses for your dog. Poisonous plants for dogs can be fatal if your dog ingests enough of them. This is particularly the case for small dogs. It doesn’t take much to overwhelm the system of a small dog.

Know Which Landscaping Plants Are Toxic for Your Dog

As a responsible dog owner, you should be aware of which plants are toxic for your dog. Become familiar with what they look like. Be able to recognize them in your yard or on walks so you can keep your dog away from them. These plants are widely used and look beautiful in landscapes, but you should avoid planting them where your dog could access them. Here is a list of common plants that are very toxic to your dog, as well as descriptions of what can happen if your dog eats them.

Azalea which is a poisonous plants for dogsAzaleas – Azalea leaves can irritate your dog’s mouth and cause vomiting and diarrhea. If your dog ingests enough of them, they can cause a drop in blood pressure, coma, and even death.

Black Walnut – Black walnut tree nuts look like balls on the ground. They turn black and are full of decay and mold. Your dog will probably want to pick them up and chew on them. However, black walnuts can make your dog very sick to its stomach. The nuts can also cause seizures, in addition to an upset stomach.

Chrysanthemums – Mums contain many substances that are particularly irritating and dangerous to dogs. Common symptoms of mum ingestion include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling and incoordination.

Daffodils – All parts of daffodils are poisonous, but the bulb is the most toxic to dogs. Eating any part of a daffodil can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, arrhythmias, convulsions, and a serious drop in blood pressure.

Foxglove – Every part of the foxglove plant is very dangerous for your dog, from the seeds to the leaves and the flowers. These plants can cause cardiac failure and death. It is very important to keep your dog away from foxgloves.

Iris – Eating irises can make your dog salivate, vomit, and drool. They can cause diarrhea and cause your dog to become lethargic. They can also cause severe skin irritation.

Oleander – You can find this flowering shrub across the southern part of the United States and California. It is highly toxic to dogs. Ingesting it can cause fatal heart abnormalities, muscle tremors, incoordination, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea.

Peonies – Another favorite flowering shrub, peonies can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased energy when ingested by your dog.

Rhododendron a plant that is poisonous plants for dogsRhododendron – Rhododendrons are in the same family as azaleas. They can irritate your dog’s mouth and cause vomiting and diarrhea. If your dog ingests enough of them, they can cause a drop in blood pressure, coma, and even death.

Sago Palm – The sago palm is a very dangerously poisonous plant to dogs. Ingesting it will cause bloody vomiting and diarrhea, bleeding disorders, liver failure, and death. In cooler climates, this palm is a common houseplant, making it more accessible to your dog.

Tulips – all parts of the tulip plant are toxic to dogs, but the bulb is the most poisonous. Eating tulips can cause significant oral irritation, excessive drooling and nausea.

This list is not exclusive by any means. There are many other plants that are toxic to your dog. You should be aware of what those are. Here is a quick list of some of the most dangerous ones:

  • Castor bean or castor oil plant (Ricinus communis)
  • Cyclamen (Cylamen spp.)
  • Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia)
  • Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
  • English Ivy, both leaves and berries (Hedera helix)
  • Mistletoe (Viscum album)
  • Oleander (Nerium oleander)
  • Thorn apple or jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)
  • Yew (Taxus spp.)
  • Any mushroom you cannot identify

a poisonous plants for dogs growing outsideFor more information on toxic plants that are dangerous for your dog, visit the ASPCA’s website. The ASPCA publishes an extensive list of Toxic and Non-toxic Plants. If you suspect your dog has eaten one of these toxic plants, consider it a life-threatening emergency for your dog and contact your vet immediately.

Contact Paw Pals For More Info About Their Services

Don’t risk your dog’s well-being by entrusting it to someone who is not familiar with the health risks these toxic plants can present to your dog. Instead, use a dog walking and dog sitting service that will keep your dog away from toxic plants and other dangerous substances. The professionals at Paw Pals know about these risks and are trained in rendering first aid if your dog gets into these poisonous plants. Reach out to Paw Pals today to schedule their services.

Filed Under: Pet Safety

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
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(703) 345-1695

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
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Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
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