March 21, 2013

And, Then They Ate A Poisonous Plant...

It goes without saying that I adore my dogs.  They are freaking awesome (if I do say so myself)!



Paisley and Brady are still at the age that they want to taste everything regardless of what it is.  Yeah...they're just over a year old, but dachshunds stay in that "puppy" stage longer than larger breeds.  Generally, I don't take issue with them (or Meadow & Beckett) picking up a stick outside and giving it a good gnaw.

We all learned something the hard way last Thursday - hydrangea bushes are mildly toxic to dogs.  Paisley and Brady decided to nibble on a hydrangea branch before dinner.  They came in, and ate dinner as normal...five minutes later I hear tummy rumbles.

First Brady started vomiting.  Then twenty minutes later Paisley started too.  Between the hours of 7 PM and 2 AM, they emptied their system of EVERYTHING.  To make matters worse, Meadow decided to "help" me clean up a little (read between the lines folks) and got sick herself soon thereafter.

As my washer and dryer ran all night (let's just say the didn't warn me before they puked), I decided to start googling.  I keep a list of all the plants that are toxic to my pets.  Hydrangea was NOT on that list...but it is now.   Everyone was just fine after getting everything up; but I did call the emergency clinic to see what signs I should watch for.

Spring is going to arrive any day now, and I'll be updating my list of "safe" plants before I do any gardening.  I ask all my fellow pet parents to do the same!  Here are a few plants to get you started:

  • Autumn crocus (Colchicum): Its active ingredient, colchicines, triggers an anti-metabolic effect that can cause rapidly dividing cells, shedding of the gastrointestinal tract, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting.
  •  Azalea (Rhododendron): This popular plant can harm a dog's cardiovascular system and trigger vomiting or gastrointestinal upset.
  • Daffodil (Narcissus): Toxic ingredients in the bulbs cause convulsions, tremors, lethargy, weakness, and upset stomachs.
  • Hyacinth (Hyacinth): This popular plant can cause severe vomiting, bloody diarrhea, depression, and tremors.
  • Japanese yew (Taxis): Extremely toxic to dogs, this group of ornamental plants can cause seizures or cardiac failure. The plant and red berries are toxic.
  • Lily of the valley (Convalaria): This plant can cause heart failure, coordination problems, and vomiting.
  • Oleander (Nerium): Extremely toxic, this popular outdoor plant contains cardiac glycosides that harm the heart, decrease body temperature, cause abnormal pulse rate, and can cause death. Beware: Even people have died from eating hot dogs roasted on an oleander twig.
  • Rhubarb (Rheum): Although the stalks are used to make pies, the leaves pack the potential to cause kidney damage.
  • Sago palm (Cycads): Resembling an upside down pineapple, this plant thrives in sandy soils, especially in warmer states such as California, Texas, and Florida. A few seeds can kill a dog.
  • Tomato (Lycopersicion): Surprisingly, the greenery of this common plant, not the tomato itself, contains solanine, a toxic ingredient that can prompt gastric upset, depression, weakness, and a decrease in heart rate.
If you have any other plants that should be on the "no plant" list - please let me know!

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10 comments:

  1. Oh no! Glad the pooches are okay, that must have been so nervewracking.

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  2. So scary for moms..I'm glad that they are ok!

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  3. How scary! Glad they are okay! Jexi doesn't eat any plants luckily! One in a while a weed or grass but that's all.

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  4. Oh no! I'm glad they are ok! Sheldon is also in that stage (he will be a year on Sunday) so I'm constantly after him, making sure it's not anything harmful! We don't have a lot of plants around our house but I'll be sure to check the lists just to make sure the ones we do have aren't harmful!

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  5. I guess its a good thing that my dogs have already killed/eaten every plant in my yard so its a barren desert! LOL.

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  6. OMG I'm so glad they're ok!! I've never worried about plants because our dogs have never been the type to eat them but I still need to be sure. Thanks for sharing this info!

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  7. That is so scary!

    I have to keep a list of plants that are ok and not ok for my bunny too. I'm so afraid he's going to eat something bad one of these days.

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  8. Does not sound like a fun day! Glad that you figured out what it was so they can stay clear of the plant now and that everything turned out okay!

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  9. Oh no! Glad they are ok. I did not know that about hydrangeas. I don't have any in my yard, but my mom and sister do...so I will be spreading the word!

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