What plants are safe in garden?

blondy24

Hello we have 12 week old puppy. Our borders in the garden are looking a bit sparse at the moment, can anyone recommend what plants are safe (not toxic) for dogs. I wanted to get some daffodils however think they will have to go in pots out the front instead.

Thanks

rustyboy21

Just a quick google search, hope it helps.

Findings surprised me

http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/_resources/resources/factsheets09/factsheetpoisonoussubstances09.pdf

dogstarheaven

a lot of flowers and shrubs are that most people wouldn't imagine before. here's a list -

http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/_resources/resources/factsheets09/factsheetpoisonoussubstances09.pdf

despite having two kittens years ago (allowed outdoor through catflap), i've had no problems with them digesting inappropriate plants. i think animals have an innate ability to eat certain ones, though, if you want to take precaution then only grow plants that are non-toxic. when the pup goes out for walks though, would you still follow these rules and ban them from going into places where some of these plants grow (woods, parks etc.,)?

speak to other owners and find out what their score is on this, as i don't think it's that necessary to worry... but i know i say this as i haven't had the misfortune to experience a poorly pet (if so, i might change my mind about this and bin my plants and start all over again in my garden!)

Pups/dogs can be very inquisitive and playful and so, they sometimes can eat inappropriately even if it doesn 't taste that great!

Dollardog

Its funny, we have always given our dogs apples or the apple core when we've had one, mind you, always had big dogs. Their breeder has apple trees in their garden, so the dogs have often pinched apples too.
Onions, my vet says onions are bad in large quantity. Garlic is in several commercial dog treats and is supposed to be good for flea deterent, joint and heart problems, again, not in large quantities yet for onions it says not in any form, but garlic is the same family.

The link also goes on to talk about dangerous substances yet one of the most common, which can be fatal very quickly is Xylitol which is a sweetner found in lots of diet products.

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol -- an artificial sweetener created from birch, raspberries, plums and corn.1 This sweetener is found in many human "sugar free" products, such as gum, candies and other sweets. In humans, high doses may have a mild laxative effect, but in dogs, ingestion could be fatal.

Signs of toxicity can be seen as quickly as 30 minutes after xylitol ingestion in dogs. The xylitol causes a rapid release of the hormone insulin, causing a sudden decrease in blood glucose.

I would be more worried about that than plants in the garden.

Sally_A

Having owned several dogs, and known lots of dogs and owners, the only plant I've ever heard of causing a problem is foxglove - the dog would lick and chew the leaves, resulting in a racing heart and drowsiness (no long term effects fortunately). Snails can be fatal for spaniels (liver probs). I assume lobelia seeds could be harmfull/fatal but now you mention it, I've seen very few of these lovely trees over the past 20 years.

I've had apple, hazelnut, walnut, garlic eaters, and even one that would dig up carrots to munch; another managed to eat all the chocolate out of bell shaped christmas tree decs, leaving the silver paper bell shaped but totally hollow (no ill effects); another scoffed a packet of Nurofen - on vets advice had to find an old lady with washing soda crystals to feed the dog and make it sick - the piles of frothy puke were impressive!

I've heard of more dogs choking to death on a tennis ball or hard rubber ball (tennis ball sized).

Which breed of dog do you have blondy24? As 99% of dogs don't give a stuff about things growing in the garden.

meritaten

if you have a staffy beware of liqueur chocolates - mine ate a huge box of them on Christmas eve one year (my dads annual treat off me). had to phone the vets to open up and treat her. cost a fortune - but I still laugh at the advice he gave on the phone before we took her over -
Keep her warm, fetch her straight in and DONT let her drive!

-F*Dragonfly-

Yes definitely don't let your dog eat Daffodils or go anywhere near them. We didn't know they were poisonous and yesterday our 9 month old dog got into a fenced off part of the garden and ate just half a leaf (he loves eating everything growing he can get his mouth on) he was sick within half an hour, then again and I phoned the vets who said as long as I thought he'd brought it all back up it should hopefully be okay, if he hadn't have been sick on his own the medicine they give them to be sick would have cost £70. Not the point I know the dogs safety and health is but just information.

He was sick five times, but seems okay now though he'll be going for a check up this month . Lesson learned and now I'm researching dangerous plants as well, anything I find that we have is getting dug up just like I did with all the Daffodils yesterday. Our dog comes first over plants.

pawsies

As a pup he'll probably be more inclined to dig up whatever you plant

Doggy sand pit it is!

Dogs tend to avoid citrus foods so you could think about citrus smelling plants, however I would gauge his reaction before planting it. If you see a little twinkle in his eye, don't plant!

blondy24

Hello, thanks for your advice. We have a labrador, at the weekend we decided to fence off part of the garden which contains rhubarb, strawberries and herbs as she keeps going for the rhubarb. Have bought some flowers for the front of the house to go in pots at the mo. We do still have half of the borders bare which I will have a read and decide what to put in. Thanks for all your advice.

Katiehound

Just read an article in the Blue Cross magazine- "Blueprint" written by chief vet at their Merton hospital- some parts are relevant.

Slugs & snails- beware of lungworm. Slug pellets can be toxic including those labelled "safe"
Lilies- all parts poisonous to cats, even in miniscule quantities
Daffodils are toxic, safe alternative are crocuses (but not the autumn crocuses)
Bluebells are a risk- but severe poisoning rare
Most plants which grow from bulbs & evergreens poisonous to rabbits.
Avoid plants with thorns at eye level.
Many herbs including lavendar, rosemary & sgae are safe choices. Also African daisy, calendula & nasturtium.