15 Common Garden Plants Dangerous to Dogs

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Plants are as important in your garden as paint is to a wall. However, if you are a dog owner, you should know that certain backyard greens are unsafe for your pup. Although those plants are beautiful, some are harmful to pets when ingested.

Here are 15 common garden plants that are poisonous to dogs.

Azaleas/Rhododendrons

These ubiquitous flower and chemical-producing shrubs contain powerful toxins called grayanotoxins. If consumed, they can lead to vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, weakness, and even comas in dogs. All plant parts, from flowers to leaves and stems, are poisonous.

Daffodils

These beautiful spring flowers have lycorine alkaloids that are dangerous to dogs, and can lead to vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and heart problems if consumed. The bulbs are a bigger danger than the stems, which contain less of the poison.

Hydrangeas

Gardeners love to grow big showy blooms of blue, white and pink hydrangeas. However, many of these plants contain cyanogenic glycosides which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and breathing difficulty in dogs.

Lily of the Valley

The pleasant-smelling flower is highly toxic to dogs, so avoid planting these if you have a curious pet. It contains toxins which may cause vomiting and diarrhea if ingested, or may lead to weakness, cardiac arrhythmias or even seizures. You should not plant it in your garden when you have a dog.

Tulips

Tulips are some of the most popular flowers grown in gardens. Yet their bulbs contain tulipalin A and B, toxic to dogs, causing vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling. These can be severe enough to interfere with breathing and heart function.

Sago Palm

This next bulb is a common ornamental plant which can give your garden a tropical feel, but is lethal to dogs. Just like saguaro, all parts of the sago palm also have cycasin, which is a toxin that may lead to liver damage, vomiting and diarrhea in dogs as mild symptoms; while severe cases may cause death.

Foxglove

This flower has tall and big blooms, but it sure brings a lot of bees to your garden. This also can make dogs seriously sick. The entire plant has the potential to be something more separate when ingested by dogs, with cardiac glycosides in all parts of the plant causing a toxic symptom affecting the heart that can lead to vomiting, diarrhoea, and potentially death.

Oleander

Oleanders are colorful flowers and they can be found in many hot climates. Despite this, every part of a holly plant carries cardiac glycosides and may be extremely toxic if ingested by dogs. Eating oleander causes serious gastrointestinal problems and potentially fatal heart disturbances.

Chrysanthemums

A lovely autumn-flowering plant, with flowers that contains pyrethrins linked to vomiting diarrhea, salivation and irritation of the skin in dogs. Selectively hazardous to flowers, the toxin is also found throughout the plant.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera, though it is a natural medicine for humans can be toxic to dogs. The plant’s inner gel can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and urine discoloration if ingested. Additionally, the leaves of an aloe plant are armed with sharp spines that can cut up the mouth and throat of any dog.

Hostas

Hostas are grown for their big leaves and easy care. But their saponins and calcium oxalate crystals can provoke digestible problems or irritation in dogs if eaten.

Rhubarb

Although safe for human consumption in cooked form, rhubarb is toxic to dogs. Its leaves contain many oxalate crystals, which can cause drooling, vomiting, and difficulty breathing in dogs.

Ivy

Photo Credit: Johann Jaritz/Wikimedia Commons

Ivy is a climber that provides year-round green clothing to any garden wall or fence. However, the saponins and polyacetylene compounds in this perennial plant are toxic to dogs, no matter what part of the plant they consume. Eating ivy can cause ivy poisoning, leading to stomach problems and dermatitis.

Tomato Plants

While tomato plants are a popular addition to vegetable gardens, according to a Pet Poison Helpline, they are toxic to dogs. Unripe green tomatoes and leaves contain solanine, a poison that can cause gastrointestinal distress and muscle weakness in dogs.

Morning Glory

Morning glories are known for their immense beauty, with trumpet-shaped flowers that open during the morning hours. However, a Wag publication reports that morning glory seeds contain lysergic acid amide, a compound that acts as a powerful irritant and can produce vomiting, diarrhea, or hallucinations in dogs.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.