Every dog owner should have a list of plants poisonous to dogs in order to protect their canine companion from illness or death. There are literally hundreds of plants that would belong on such a list, but the following are a few of the most common, including azaleas, daffodils, and some types of ferns. Make sure to keep these toxic plants out of your dog's reach or out of your home entirely.
A List of Plants Poisonous to Dogs
If you have a puppy or an inquisitive adult dog, you know that your pet is not very picky about what they put in their mouth. This can be very dangerous if the dog decides to chew on something poisonous. Most people know to keep chemicals away from their pet, and many are aware of the potential dangers of chocolate for dogs, but do you know that many common houseplants and landscape plants like gardenias and geraniums are deadly?
Houseplants
Be careful about the plants you choose to decorate your home. Some are extremely toxic to dogs. Examples include: (Note: Plants with "spp." in the name indicates all species of the plant are toxic.)
| Plant | Symptoms |
|---|---|
 | Causes vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy. |
 | Causes vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, abdominal pain, hyper-salivating. |
 | Ingestion of the berries will cause vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain; can also cause allergic dermatitis with prolonged skin contact. |
 | Causes vomiting, diarrhea, hyper-salivating, weakness, coma, cardiovascular collapse, and death. |
 | Causes burning of the mouth, lips and tongue, drooling, vomiting, and problems swallowing. |
 | Causes intense burning in the mouth, drooling, vomiting, and problems swallowing. |
 | Causes irritation of the mouth, lips, and tongue; drooling, vomiting, and problems swallowing. |
 | Impairs coordination, causes diarrhea and vomiting, hyper-salivation, and dermatitis. |
 | Causes vomiting, salivating, diarrhea, and death if tubers (roots) are eaten. |
 | Causes burning of the lips, mouth, and tongue, drooling, vomiting, and trouble swallowing. |
 | Causes vomiting, diarrhea, and skin hives. |
 | Causes vomiting, depression, no appetite, and dermatitis. |
 | Causes nausea, vomiting, and incoordination. |
 | Causes swelling and burning of the mouth and tongue as well as digestive issues, spasms, and seizures. |
 | Causes vomiting, diarrhea, and in some cases, liver failure. The survival rate for this poisoning in dogs is only 32 - 50%. |
 | Causes vomiting and diarrhea. |
Landscape Plants
Common plants in your yard may also make your dog very ill. They may be beautiful in your garden, but they are dangerous for your pet. Here are just a few to be careful of:
| Image | Symptoms |
|---|---|
 | Causes vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, and weakness. |
 | Causes diarrhea, vomiting, and depression. |
 | Causes tremors, breathing problems, vomiting, seizures, heart failure, and death. |
 | Will cause drowsiness as well as mild nausea and vomiting. |
 | Toxic mold grows on the nuts, which can cause tremors and seizures. |
 | Causes mild stomach problems and dermatitis. |
 | Causes mouth irritation, thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, and death. |
 | Causes bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, and mouth irritation; also causes suppression of bone marrow production and multi-organ damage. |
 | Causes vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, and convulsions if a large amount of the bulb is eaten. |
 | Causes vomiting, salivating, drooling, diarrhea, and lethargy. |
 | Symptoms range from something minor, such as a rash, and can be as serious as breathing difficulties, paralysis, or even coma. |
Human Food Crops
Plants that people can safely enjoy as food can be poisonous to dogs. Food crops may be fruits, vegetables, or herbs. A few of the foods you should avoid giving your dog include:
| Image | Symptoms |
|---|---|
 | Stems, leaves, and seeds cause red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, problems breathing, and shock. However, the fruit of the apple is safe for dogs. |
 | Seeds, stems, and leaves cause the same symptoms as apples. Apricot flesh is safe for dogs. |
 | Leaves, seeds, bark, and fruit cause vomiting and diarrhea. |
 | This plant causes vomiting and diarrhea. |
 | Causes vomiting, diarrhea, and allergic reactions. Bleeding issues may surface with long-term use. |
 | Coffee beans, grounds, and the foliage of the tree cause panting, restlessness, muscle twitches, and increased heart rate (similar to chocolate). |
 | Garlic causes the breakdown of red blood cells, vomiting, panting, weakness, elevated heart rate, and blood in urine. |
 | Fresh and dried (raisins) grapes cause kidney failure and possibly death. |
 | This citrus causes vomiting, diarrhea, and depression. |
 | This causes the same problems as garlic; they both contain the same toxic chemical, thiosulphate. |
 | Green parts of the plant cause diarrhea, loss of appetite, weakness, confusion, slow heart rate. Ripe tomato flesh fine for dogs to eat. |
Plants With Bad Reputations
Although many dog owners have been told to keep their pets away from colorful plants because they're inevitably dangerous, this isn't necessarily true. Petunias, for example, are beautiful flowers that aren't toxic to dogs. Cannas, frequently referred to as "Canna Lily," though not truly a lily, is also considered non-toxic to dogs.
There are many other attractive and pet-friendly plants you can choose to keep in your home. Of course, this doesn't mean you should allow your dogs to eat these plants intentionally, but rather that you shouldn't panic if your dog happens to grab a bite of either of these colorful plants. There are also many useful apps for smartphones that can help identify plants, but be sure to check with your veterinarian if you have any questions about a plant's toxicity.
Where to Find More Details
This is by no means an all-inclusive list of plants poisonous to dogs. For a more extensive list of nearly 400 plants, visit the ASPCA website. Toxic plants should be eliminated from your home or closely monitored so your dog is unable to access them. Food plants that are toxic to your dog should be securely fenced so your dog cannot get near them if they cannot be removed from your landscape. If you suspect that your dog has eaten something he shouldn't, call your vet immediately or call the ASPCA emergency poisoning hotline at 1-888-426-4435.
