Dangers with House Plants

Just as there are hidden dangers in our dog’s environment from the foods we eat, there are also dangers in many of the plants we keep to decorate our homes and property.

The following list is taken from ASPCA’s website and is not a complete list of the plants that could potentially be hazardous to your dog. For a more complete list, visit the ASPCA’s website.

Plants Poisonous to Dogs

Plant	Description/Possible Problems
Sago Palm	All parts of Cycas Revoluta are poisonous, but the seeds or “nuts” contain the largest amount of toxin. The ingestion of just one or two seeds can result in very serious effects, which include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures and liver failure.
Lilies	Members of the Lilium spp. are considered to be highly toxic to cats. While the poisonous component has not yet been identified, it is clear that with even ingestions of very small amounts of the plant, severe kidney damage could result.
Tulip/Narcissus bulbs	The bulb portions of Tulipa/Narcissus spp. contain toxins that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of appetite, depression of the central nervous system, convulsions and cardiac abnormalities.
Azalea/Rhododendron	Members of the Rhododenron spp. contain substances known as grayantoxins, which can produce vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, weakness and depression of the central nervous system in animals. Severe azalea poisoning could ultimately lead to coma and death from cardiovascular collapse.
Oleander	All parts of Nerium oleander are considered to be toxic, as they contain cardiac glycosides that have the potential to cause serious effects—including gastrointestinal tract irritation, abnormal heart function, hypothermia and even death.
Castor Bean	The poisonous principle in Ricinus communis is ricin, a highly toxic protein that can produce severe abdominal pain, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, weakness and loss of appetite. Severe cases of poisoning can result in dehydration, muscle twitching, tremors, seizures, coma and death.
Cyclamen	Cylamen species contain cyclamine, but the highest concentration of this toxic component is typically located in the root portion of the plant. If consumed, Cylamen can produce significant gastrointestinal irritation, including intense vomiting. Fatalities have also been reported in some cases.
Kalanchoe	This plant contains components that can produce gastrointestinal irritation, as well as those that are toxic to the heart, and can seriously affect cardiac rhythm and rate.
Yew	Taxus spp. contains a toxic component known as taxine, which causes central nervous system effects such as trembling, incoordination, and difficulty breathing. It can also cause significant gastrointestinal irritation and cardiac failure, which can result in death.

Hidden Dangers in People Food

The fact that dogs love to eat is no great mystery. They especially love “people” food. Our food is full of all sorts of great flavors and smells that most dogs usually go crazy for, and would rather eat than their normal, daily canine cuisine.

Many people love giving their dog an extra-special, food treat from time to time. They love seeing the excitement on their dog’s face after handing him a nice piece of juicy steak for example, and watching him lick the plate clean. While giving your dog a scrap or two here and there (as long as it’s not directly from the table) isn’t necessarily an issue, you must pay attention to the types of food you are giving him and/or, allowing him to find on his own.

While “human” food is certainly tasty to our dogs, it can also be dangerous, especially to the smaller dogs.

You can do your best to prevent or minimize the potential for accidents in your home by taking a look around to make sure there are no toxic food substances left where your dog can get to them. Remember to remove food from counters or tables that your dog can reach. Make sure your trashcan is secured from your dog’s perusal.

If you bring your dog to a neighbor, friend or family member’s house, do a quick check around to make sure there are no dangers present there either, especially if they don’t own dogs or if they have children. Always keep an eye of what your dog is getting into and what other people are feeding your dog. An ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure when dealing with common household dangers.

If in doubt of whether something is harmful or not, always err on the side of caution. Be safe, and keep it away from your dog.

Dangerous People Foods for Dogs

The actual effects that these compounds can have on your dog are dependent on a number of factors. Always consult your vet immediately if you know or suspect your dog has eaten one or more of the items on this list or any other dangerous item.

Food/Item	Description/Possible Problems
Chocolate	The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is for your dog. Dark chocolate has 2 to 5 times more theobromine, the component of chocolate that is toxic to dogs, than milk chocolate, which makes it more dangerous to dogs. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, approximately 1.3 grams of baker’s chocolate per kilogram of a dog’s body weight (0.02 oz/lb) is sufficient to cause symptoms of toxicity. Your best bet is to keep all types of chocolate away from your dog.
Onions and Garlic (Raw, Cooked, Dried, etc…)	Onions and garlic are others dangerous foods that cause sickness in dogs, as well as other animals. Onions contain the toxic ingredient thiosulphate.  Onions are more of a concern than garlic;  however in sufficient quantities, garlic can be dangerous as well. Dogs affected by onion and garlic toxicity will develop haemolytic anaemia, where the pet’s red blood cells burst while circulating in its body. Keep your dog away from all sources of onions and garlic, including dried, raw, cooked and mixed within other foods.
Grapes and Raisins	Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. Depending on the size of the dog, a very small amount of raisins can be lethal.
Macadamia Nuts	Both raw and roasted macadamia nuts are dangerous for dogs. The actual toxic compound isn’t known; however dogs that ingest enough of these nuts can develop tremors, weakness or paralysis of the skeletal muscles and hindquarters. Difficulty rising, swollen and painful limbs are also apparent in affected dogs.
Coffee, Coffee Grounds, Tea and Tea Bags, Cola and other soft-drinks	Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and, as is the case in humans, high levels can affect the heart and nervous systems.
Tomatoes and Tomato Plants, Rhubarb	Contain oxalates, which can be problematic for the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. In high amounts these compounds can cause problematic.
Raw Fish	Can cause stomach upset and diarrhea. If fed regularly, can cause problems to the dog’s overall diet resulting in vitamin deficiency, which can cause other health problems such as loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death.
Milk and Some Other Dairy Products	Some dogs do not have the lactase enzyme to break down the lactose in milk and other dairy products. Can cause diarrhea.
Mushrooms	Can contain toxins that may impair the liver and kidney. Shock and death are possible.
Sugary Foods	Same problems as in humans. In large amounts can lead to obesity, tooth decay and diabetes.
Alcohol	Same problems as in humans. In larger amounts can cause stomach problems, diarrhea, coma, death.
Bones from poultry, fish or other meat sources	Could lead to esophageal or intestinal blockage or laceration.
Cat food	Cat food contains a very high level of protein and is not recommended to be given to dogs.
Seeds from Apples, Cherries or Peaches and similar fruit	The seeds of these fruits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to dogs as well as humans.
Avocados – The fruit, the pit and the plant	These are all toxic. Difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation in the chest, abdomen and heart are possible.
Table Scraps (in large amounts)	These shouldn’t comprise more than 10% of the dog’s diet. If table scraps are given, please make sure to remove any bones present as well as the fat. Large amounts of table scraps can lead to unbalanced nutrition levels, allergies and other health problems.
Yeast Dough	Can expand and create large amounts of gas in the digestive tract causing pain and, in very severe cases, rupture of the stomach or intestines.
Nutmeg	Can cause seizures, tremors or death.

Please note: This is not a comprehensive list of possible food dangers. Common sense and a little research before you give your dog something in question are a must.