When dogs explore nature, they often come across poisonous plants. The aim here is to prevent dogs from nibbling or eating fruit. You can find out which plants are dangerous for your dog and how you can recognize signs of poisoning if your dog has eaten parts of a poisonous plant without you noticing, in the Plantopedia plant magazine.
Poisonous garden plants
Garden plants cannot be seen to be poisonous. Dangers for your dog and especially for puppies with an incompletely developed immune system lurk not only in the home garden, but also in the great outdoors, such as in parks or forests. Below you will find a list of the most common poisonous plants so that you can take appropriate protective measures for your dog and identify possible symptoms that occur after consumption/contact.
Plants from A to E
alpine rose
The alpine rose blooms from May to August, but it is not only the flowers that are poisonous to dogs, but also the leaves and roots. This poisonous plant species can end a dog's life under certain circumstances.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- Irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat
- inflammation of the stomach and intestines
- Vomit
- increased salivation
- falling pulse and slowing heart activity
- cramps
- Signs of paralysis with possible respiratory arrest
Rhododendron russatum 'Gletschernacht', Russblatt Alpenrose
Monkshood (Aconitum napellus)
The blue monkshood, also known as the real monkshood, is one of the most poisonous ornamental plants in Europe. Not only dogs can die when eating the parts of the plant, but also humans are exposed to a particularly high health risk. This is due to the substance "alkaloid aconitine", which is found in all parts of the plant and can trigger numbness even with slight contact.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- Vomit
- diarrhea
- convulsions and tremors
- Numbness (recognizable by a wobbly gait in dogs)
- cardiac arrhythmias
- circulatory disorders
- breathing problems
- cardiac and respiratory arrest
Monkshood, Aconitum napellus
Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
The boxwood is beautiful to look at, offers countless creative design options, is evergreen and at home in almost every German garden. It often serves as a hedge in the form of a privacy screen on property borders and can therefore be found in many places when walking the dog.
All parts of the plant contain the toxic alkaloid cyclobuxin, which can have fatal, life-threatening consequences for dogs if eaten.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- diarrhea
- Vomit
- cramps
- severe pain in the stomach and intestines
- difficulty breathing
- paralysis of the airways
- suffocation
Boxwood, Buxus
Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa)
The wood anemone is a herbaceous plant that grows between eleven centimeters and 25 centimeters. It is often planted in flower gardens because of its white flowers and can also be found growing wild. It has flower stars with yellow stamens. Wood anemones bloom between March and late April/early May.
All plant parts contain slightly toxic protoanemoin (alkaloid), which loses its toxic effect in dried plants. In addition, the root contains triterpene saponins, which can be deadly for dogs.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- in case of skin contact skin irritation with possible formation of blisters and pustules
- irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat when consumed
- nausea
- Vomit
- bloody diarrhea
- Bleeding tendency
- kidney damage
Wood anemone, Anemone nemorosa
Ivy (Hedera)
Ivy is very popular and widespread as a climbing plant. Dog owners should not let their dogs eat ivy because all parts of the plant, from the leaves to the berries and the juice to the stems, contain a toxic substance: saponins. Ivy can also be found as a houseplant among the poisonous plants. Except for the fruit, the ivy is moderately poisonous. Eating the fruit, on the other hand, can have fatal, life-threatening consequences for dogs.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- Vomit
- restless behavior
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- Irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat
- circulatory problems
- possible cardiac arrest if several fruits are eaten
Ivy, Hedera helix
Yew (taxus)
For centuries, yews have been considered one of the most dangerous poisonous plants. Both the seeds and the tree needles contain toxic substances. Experts assume that the pollen also contains this toxic substance and can cause damage to health if inhaled. The petals, on the other hand, are not poisonous.
Poisonous seeds can be found in the fall. Initially, green, velvety-soft berries form, which later become red and fleshy. The seed is in the middle. Alkaloid taxine is present in seeds and needles, which affects the heart and heart function. The first poisoning reactions usually appear within the first hour after consumption/contact.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- Vomit
- diarrhea
- Dizziness, which shows up in dogs with balance difficulties
- Pain in the stomach and intestines with cramps
- Liver and kidney damage
- unconsciousness
- severely reddened oral mucosa due to increased heart rate
- rapidly falling blood pressure
- noticeable dilation of the pupils (slightly bluish shimmer)
- can rapidly lead to death from cardiac arrest (within 1.5 hours)
Yew, Taxus baccata Fastigiata Robusta
Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia)
The angel's trumpet is one of the most dangerous poisonous plants in Europe's gardens. The plants can reach up to five meters in height. They are easily recognized by the unique trumpet-shaped flowers. All parts of the angel's trumpet plant contain alkaloids, scopolamine, hyoscyamine and atropine, which are very toxic to dogs and humans. It is not for nothing that the plant is also called devil's claw and poison apple.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- Vomit
- severe and possibly bloody diarrhea
- seizures
- Tremble
- cardiac arrhythmias
- Pupils dilate and show a slight bluish tint
- difficulty breathing
- Without prompt veterinary care, respiratory and circulatory failure can lead to death of the dog
Angel's Trumpet, Brugmansia
Plants from G to K
Broom (Genista)
Broom offers various types of beautiful spring bloomers. The broom in particular is highly toxic to dogs and almost all other animals. It reaches a height of up to two meters and flowers from May to June, as do the species German broom (Genista germanica), dyer's broom (Genista tinctoria) and European gorse (Ulex europaeus), which also contain toxic substances and are all similar in appearance.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- nausea
- increased salivation
- Vomit
- diarrhea
- restless behavior
- easily excitable dog
- paralysis of breathing
- Constipation, which can lead to bowel obstruction
- unconsciousness
- first increase in blood pressure, then decrease in blood pressure
- Death possible from cardiac or respiratory arrest
Common broom, Cytisus scoparius
laburnum
Laburnum can be recognized by its bright yellow flowers, which hang down from the shoots in a sea of flowers from May to June, like raindrops. The poisonous plant is particularly common in parks, which is why you should pay particular attention to dogs here, because laburnum contains quinolizine alkaloids in all parts of the plant, which can quickly cause death if eaten.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- strong panting
- muscle tremors
- balance disorders
- Vomit
- muscle cramps
- paralysis of the respiratory organs
- Death from asphyxiation or circulatory failure
laburnum, forsythia
Hyacinths (Hyacinthus)
Tall bulbs make hyacinths immediately noticeable and identified as such when they flower around Easter and spring. They are available in a wide variety of flower colors. They contain calcium oxalate and other pollutants. These are contained in all parts of the plant, with the highest proportion being stored in the flower bulbs and correspondingly worse symptoms of poisoning can be triggered.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- severe to bloody irritation of the mucous membranes
- Vomiting possibly with blood sputum
- severe diarrhea
Hyacinth, Hyacinths, Hyacinthus
Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
The evergreen cherry laurel is often planted as a hedge and appears from April to June with delicate white to cream-beige flowers in the form of small bulbs. The leaves resemble those of a rhododendron. In particular, the leaves and seeds in August/September are poisonous parts of the plant that contain cyanogenic glycosides. Good chewing is required to release the toxic hydrocyanic acid, making these poisonous plants especially dangerous for puppies who like to chew on everything. No symptoms of poisoning are to be expected from mere contact. If you swallow without first biting the parts of the plant, symptoms usually show up in a weaker form.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- light-colored mucous membranes in the mouth and on the eyes
- nausea
- Paralysis of limbs and respiratory tract
- Breathing arrest can lead to death
Cherry laurel, laurel cherry, Prunus laurocerasus
Plants from L to O
Tree of Life (Thuja)
Trees of life are among the evergreen plants that are popular as trees and hedges. It has scale-like leaves and as a tree it grows in a natural cone shape with a slender tapering treetop. In autumn they form small cones on the tips of the leaves. Trees of life are particularly common in cemeteries and parks.
They are among the poisonous plants because they have a lot of essential oil in some parts of the plant, which can cause symptoms of poisoning in dogs. Young shoots and shoot tips as well as woody parts of the plant and the fruit bodies have a high proportion of essential oil. If your dog nibbles on it, this can have deadly consequences for the four-legged friend.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- severe to very extreme spasms in the stomach and intestines
- severe diarrhea with severe flatulence
- extreme vomiting
- mucosal irritations
- Liver and kidney damage
- paralysis of the respiratory tract
- abortion in pregnant bitches
- Heart failure or respiratory arrest resulting in death
Tree of Life, Thuja
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis)
The delicate white flowers hang like little bells from the end of April/beginning of May on a stalk surrounded by two to three upright leaves. The typical sweet scent of flowers is particularly striking, which makes lily of the valley immediately recognizable. As one of the few poisonous plants, it contains several very dangerous toxins: convallatoxol, convallatoxin, convallosid and desglucocheirotoxin. These can be found in the leaves, flowers and fruits.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- Vomit
- diarrhea
- cramps
- cardiac arrhythmias
- Dizziness, which is shown by balance problems in the dog
- circulatory collapse
- at high doses of poison and in puppies, death from cardiac arrest is possible
Lily of the valley, Convallaria majalis
Oleander (Nerium oleander)
The oleander comes from the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), which is no coincidence, because it contains toxic substances that can cause death in dogs. Oleanders are bushy plants with lanceolate leaves and can reach a height of up to five meters. They even grow wild on the banks of rivers and streams, while they find their place in ornamental gardens. The heart-active glycoside oleandrin and nerioside cause poisoning in humans and dogs. They are contained in all parts of the oleander plant. The toxins also enter the body through open wounds.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- Vomit
- diarrhea
- slowed pulse
- pupil dilation
- cramps
- Blue discoloration of the oral mucosa
- cardiac arrhythmias
- Cardiac paralysis possible after two to three hours
Oleander, Nerium oleander
Plants from R to T
rhododendron
There are countless rhododendron species, all of which have one thing in common: the laurel-like leaves. The flowering period begins about six weeks after the beginning of spring and ends in August. The flowers are usually in the middle of a leaf wreath. The rhododendron is one of the poisonous plants with the toxin andromedotoxin, which is only found in the leaves and flowers of these plants. Andromedotoxin causes immense symptoms of poisoning, especially in immunocompromised dogs, which often result in death.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- inflammation of the stomach and intestines
- increased salivation
- cramps
- Paralysis, where respiratory paralysis can lead to death
Rhododendron, Rhododendron oreodoxa
Knight Star (Hippeastrum)
The knight star is very poisonous for all four-legged friends. Even the smallest amounts are enough to provoke strong symptoms.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- heavy salivation
- diarrhea
- balance disorders
- muscle tremors
- in severe cases respiratory arrest
Knightstar, Amaryllis, Hippeastrum
Holly (Ilex)
The pine tree with the small red fruits is particularly well-known at Christmas time, where it is used for decoration. Their leaves have sharp spikes that can be very painful to touch and even cause bloody wounds. It flowers from May to June and then forms the red fruits. In addition to the leaves, the alkaloids they contain make holly a plant that is poisonous to dogs.
Possible symptoms and signs of poisoning:
- Vomit
- diarrhea
- sleepiness
- death can occur from about 20 consumed berries
Holly, Ilex
Deadly Nightshade (Atropa)
The deadly nightshade usually has almost black, cherry-like fruits between August and October. It grows as a shrub and flowers from June to August with single, bell-shaped flowers. It is one of the very dangerous poisonous plants and can kill dogs if they nibble on them. It contains the toxins atropine, scopolamine, belladonnin and scopoletin. The leaves are the most toxic, followed by the roots, seeds and fruits. The flowers contain small amounts of tropane alkaloids.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- dry mucous membranes
- difficulties swallowing
- much thirst
- dilated pupils
- excitement
- visual disturbances
- constipation
- increased heart rate and breathing rate
- palpitations
- fever
- disturbances in movement
- fits of rage
- fatal respiratory paralysis (three to four fruit berries can already have fatal consequences)
Black deadly nightshade, Atropa belladonna
Tulip (Tulipa)
The tulip is one of the most popular plants that herald spring. They are easily recognizable by their long stems and head flower. They also find their way into the living room as cut flowers and therefore require double caution when dogs romp around freely outside and in the house, because tulips are poisonous plants. All parts of the plants, from the bulb to the stems to the petals, contain so-called tuliposides A and B as well as tulipin, which puts the tulips on the list of poisonous plants, even though they are "only" slightly poisonous. However, stronger symptoms and consequences of poisoning can become noticeable in small puppies.
Possible symptoms and consequences of poisoning:
- Skin and mucous membrane irritation
- itching on skin contact
- Stomach and intestinal irritation
- Stomach cramps
- difficulty breathing
Tulips, Tulipa
TIP: Whether you suspect or know that your dog has/could have eaten parts of any of the poisonous plants listed here, do not hesitate and contact the veterinarian immediately. Depending on the severity of the poisoning, every minute can decide the severity of the consequences of poisoning.