What spring flowers are toxic to dogs?

Nothing says spring is coming like blossoming flowers all over the trees, fields and hedgerows.

This is the perfect time to take the dog on longer, more adventurous walks in the sunlight, but it’s important to note – there are certain spring flowers and plants that although beautiful, have the potential to cause harm to your pooch.

Pooch & Mutt discuss which flowers are toxic to dogs, which plants are dog-friendly, and how to keep your dog safe from toxic flowers in the spring.

Why should you be wary of spring flowers?

While some spring blooms won’t harm your dog at all if they have a nibble, others can cause your pooch serious harm if ingested. While some dogs have an uncontrollable urge to eat things, whether they’re edible or not, it’s super important you’re aware of what all the most toxic flowers, plants and seeds look like. This way you’ll avoid any alarming incidents that will require emergency treatment or, if the unfortunate happens, know what action to take.

What spring flowers are toxic to dogs?

Let’s go through some of the spring flowers that can cause your dog harm if eaten:

• Tulips. The bulbs of these popular spring flowers are the most toxic part, as they can cause vomiting, drooling and diarrhoea.
• Daffodils. Every part of a daffodil is poisonous to a dog, but especially the bulbs. They can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, and even heart issues in severe cases.
• Bluebells. These fragrant woodland flowers contain toxic glycosides that can cause nausea, vomiting and lethargy to a dog when eaten.
• Foxgloves. These toxic flowers contain cardiac glycosides which affect the heart, potentially causing life-threatening heart rhythm abnormalities.
• Lily of the Valley. All parts of Lily of the Valley is highly toxic to dogs, affecting the heart and potentially leading to severe symptoms like irregular heartbeat, vomiting and seizures.
• Crocuses. Spring crocuses can cause mild stomach upset if eaten, but note the Autumn crocus (which usually flowers in the autumn) is even more toxic and can cause organ damage to dogs.
• Hyacinths. The bulbs of hyacinths contain toxins that can cause irritation, drooling, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

Signs your dog has eaten a toxic plant

If your pooch has snaffled a plant that isn’t edible, then contact your vet immediately. If you’re not sure, be sure to look out for the following symptoms, from least to most severe:

• Drooling excessively
• Change in behaviour/lethargy
• Vomiting and diarrhoea
• Swelling of mouth and throat
• Tremors/seizures
• Struggling to breathe
• Collapse

If your pooch displays any of these signs, be sure to take them for immediate veterinary attention.

What should I do if my dog has eaten a poisonous plant?

If you note any of the above symptoms; or if there are no symptoms but you suspect your dog has eaten a poisonous plant, remain calm and firstly, remove any plant still in their mouth and dispose of it.

Try to identify exactly what the plant is – or if you aren’t sure, take a photo of it – then contact the vet immediately. Even if your dog’s symptoms are mild, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Do not try to get your dog to be sick but do offer water (if your dog can drink), as this can sometimes dilute the toxins. A vet will likely advise you to bring your dog in for a check-up or can direct you on what to do next.

What spring flowers are safe for dogs?

There are so many beautiful flowers you can plant and enjoy growing in your own garden, that are totally safe for your pooch to sniff around.

Blooms such as:

• Roses
• Sunflowers
• Marigolds
• Snapdragons
• Petunias
• Pansies
• Violets
• Daisies
  Of course, if your dog eats a large amount of anything they’ll probably get a mild stomach upset, so keep an eye on them when they’re exploring freely among the flowerbeds.

How to keep your dog safe on spring walks

There’s nothing like the freshness that comes with the spring, and you’ll be eager to take your dog out more often. Just be sure to keep your pooch safe from the potential hazards by staying vigilant of the risks.

• Keep note of which flowers are safe and unsafe, perhaps with a small guidebook or reference book, or by using an app on your phone that can photo-identify plants for you.
• Don’t let your dog out of your sight. They might like to run around in forests and fields and that’s great but call them back if they go out of your eye line – you need to know what they’re getting themselves into. If you let them off the lead, be sure they have reliable recall.
• Bring healthy dog treats or chew toys as distractions and rewards. If your pooch is too likely to sniff at something they shouldn’t, bring something tempting to lure them away, and reward them for good listening.

Creating a dog-safe garden

If you want to feel relaxed when your pooch is wandering around your garden at home, there are steps you can take to help keep them safe in your yard.

• If you want to keep toxic plants, such as daffodils, keep them behind a fence or secure them off with netting so your pooch can’t get access.
• Always use pet-friendly plant fertilisers (it should say so on the packaging)
  and plant lots of dog-friendly flowers.
• Birds, other animals or the wind can drop things into the garden that may harm your dog. Keep an eye out for hazardous objects and clear them away each day before your dog goes snooping.
• Give your dog a ‘safe space’ in the garden and teach them where it is: put their toys, a dog bed and water bowl in that area, and direct them back there whenever needed.