Toxic And Non-Toxic Plants For Dogs

Back in late July/ early August when Henley gave the fright of my life by eating something (not sure what) and getting toxicity poison from it (still unknown exactly what “it” was) I looked more closely into what plants are and aren’t deadly for dogs. I must say there isn’t much information on what plants are “safe” for dogs. There’s plenty on what plants are poisonous but not the other way round. So I thought it would be helpful to develop two lists that depicts the most common plants found in your garden that are toxic and a its of plants that are non-toxic for dogs:
I should also point out that this list will pertain to plants native and exotic to Australia.

White Bottlebrush (Callistemon salignus) Safe for Dogs. 

Non-Toxic Plants:

African Daisy Gerbera jemesonii
African Violet Saintpaulia spp.
Baby’s Tears (aka Polka Dot Plant) Hypoestes phyllostachya
Bamboo Palm Chamaedorea elegans
Beetroot (aka Swiss Chard) Beta vulgaris
Bottlebrush
Buttercup Squash Cucurbita maxima cv
Buzzy Lizzie (aka Giant Touch-Me-Not, Patient Lucy) Impatiens spp.
Callistemon
Carrot Daucus carota var. sativa
Celosia plumosa (aka Cockscomb) 
Chickens and Hens (aka Nother Hens and Chicks) Echeveria elegans
Cinnamon
Cornflower (aka Bacelors buttons) Centaurea cyanus
Crape Myrtle Lagerstroemia indica
Cucumber
Garden Snapdragon Antirrhinum majus
Gerber Daisy Gerbera jamesonii
Honeydew Melon Cucumis melo
Jasmine Jasminium species
Marigold Calendula officinalis
Mulberry Tree Morus sp.
Pampas Grass Cortaderia selloana
Petunia Petunia species
Rose Rosa species
Strawberry Fragaria
Sunflower Helianthus angustifolius
Venus Fly Trap Droseraceae

Toxic Plants:

Poisonous for dogs: the Poppy

  

Agapanthus
Aloe vera
Amaryllis
Apple 
Apricot
Arum lily
Azalea/Rhododendron
Baby’s Breath
Begonia’s
Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)
Brunfelsia (aka Yesterday, today and tomorrow)
Carnations
Clematis
Cherry Tree
Chrysanthemum
Cyclamen
Daffodil
Dahlia
Daphne
Foxglove
Garlic
Gardenia
Geranium
Gladiola
Grapefruit
Helebore
Hibiscus
Holly
Horse Chestnut
Hosta
Hydrangea
Hyacinth
Iris
Ivy
Jade Plant (aka Dwarf rubber plant) Crassula argentea
Jonquil
Lantana
Laurel
Lemon
Lilies (entire family)
Lily of the Valley
Lime
Morning Glory
Macadamia
Nandina (aka Sacred bamboo, Hevenly Bamboo) Nandina domestica
Norfolk Island Pine (aka Australian Pine)
Oleander 
Orange
Periwinkle (aka Running Myrtle) Vinca rosea
Peony
Poinsettias
Poppies
Portulaca (aka Pigwee, Wild Portulaca, Moss Rose) Portulaca leeracea
Primrose
Privet
Rhubarb
Sage Palm
Snow drops
Snowflakes
Sweet Pea (Lathyrus latifolius
Tomato Plants
Tulips
Walnuts
Wandering jew
Wisteria
Yucca

While compiling the lists I also remembered that fertilisers and pest control (rodent poisons, snail and slug bait and insecticides) can cause allergic reactions for dogs (and cats) and even death in some instances if digested or come into direct contact with. Fertilisers come in many forms: liquid, granular or solid form. So its best to watch out or be aware of the ingredients in your fertilisers.

Another trouble area that can occur with dogs (puppies especially) is what mulch you use in your garden. Some puppies and dogs (Henley included) will gladly pick up, chew and eat bark mulch. This can be a choking hazard or lead to gastrointestinal issues. In other parts of the world a popular type of mulch available (not readily available in Australia) is Cocoa Bean Mulch. Yep chocolate mulch, it's as bad if not worse than if your dog digested chocolate. Pine mulch is an alternative that dogs tend to not eat due to the shape and size of the needles found in it. So keep an eye out and see what plants are found in your garden or have a look at what plants are safe for your canine family members. 

A great website to check out a more thorough list of plants poisonous to dogs and other pets is the Pet Poison Helpline (http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poisons/).

Do you have any plants that you think should be on one of the two lists? Let me know and I'll add them to it.

Cabin Fever

For most of the week the weather has been pretty awful. Rain followed by wind and even more rain. Parts of Sydney have had severe damage from the weather and other parts have experienced flooding. As I showed in 'A splash in a puddle never hurt no body' our front yard floods when the rain gets heavy. And the initial cute splashing that Henley did soon wore off when he began to dig in the mud then try and race inside. Multiple towels a day are used to wipe his feet, legs and even head as he occasionally decides to shove his head into the muddy water to try and see what? I have no idea. But our washing machine sure is getting a workout.

Resting a Vizsla pup is hard work. Think of trying to pack a fire cracker back in its box after it has been lit and that's what it's like trying to contain a seven month old Vizsla. He does have his moments of quiet in which snuggles are amazing. But the still moments are far and few between.

A snuggle and a scratch on the chest and you have to take my photo mum?

Nap time while the rain pours down outside.

Upside-down he gets this crazy look in his eyes right before he runs at full speed around the house

So in combination with trying to keep Henley from running around with his injured shoulder (near impossible as that is), Henley's dislike for going outside to the bathroom when its raining, and the excessive muddy paw cleaning we have had enough of this weather. Bring back the sun!

A splash in a puddle never hurt no body

As Sydney hunkers down for some heavy rain and strong winds Henley has found the joy that is our flooded front yard. Poor drainage plus heavy rain means that the front garden turns into a plunge pool in places where Henley has begun his new career as an open cut miner. These holes that he can make in a matter of seconds with those digging paws of his are now over filled with rain water. Henley has met many a puddle especially enjoying them on his walks as he bats at them with his paw while whoever is on the other end of the leash stands clear back (learnt from previous puddle crazed experiences).
I do wonder if he overheard a conversation I had the other day concerning plunge pools and perhaps Henley is taking the splendid idea and making it a reality in the only way he knows how: "if your staff don't make one, one must take the initiative and start to dig one for them." So today when the rain retreated for a small period of time I let Henley investigate where his empty holes used to be.

I must add that Henley was shocked that he wash't allowed to run straight into the house after exploring the muddy puddles. And I wish I had known about the weather that we're having was going to happen, Henley had a bath just the other day, and now the wet dog smell is settling in. It's quite a challenge to catch him with a towel as he tries to run past you into the house. I know he sees it as a game of you can't catch me mum, and after the sweet victory of barrelling past my towel holding arm barricade he promptly conducts his victory dance of trying to wipe himself dry on any surface he can. Curtains, washing drying on a clothes horse, his crate and blankets an unsuspecting humans pants or pyjamas, you know anything but the towel you have ready in your hand to dry him.

Does anyone else have a dog that loves puddle jumping like Henley does? He'd love some tips on how to make the water splash as high as it can without it landing back down on his back.