time in the great outdoors, but let's be
careful to keep them safe. Liberty Hill
Pet Resort owner MaryAnn Robertson
notes that there are a number of plants,
including shrubs, trees, and flowers,
that are poisonous to canines--some
may be in your own yards. Should they
ingest these items, the results can
range from minor discomfort (drooling,
lip smacking) to serious distress
(vomiting, diarrhea, paralysis, seizures,
cardiac arrhythmia, respiratory failure),
or even be fatal.
Azalea, rhododendron, holly (including
American, English, Japanese, and
Christmas), hydrangea, ivy, oleander,
peonies, and sago palms
Black walnut (nuts), chinaberry (berries,
leaves, bark, flowers), horse chestnut
(buckeye), Japanese yew (all varieties),
most nut trees, and the fruits from
trees such as plum, apricot, peach,
cherry, and apple
A u t u m n c r o c u s , b e g o n i a ,
chrysanthemum, daffodil, foxglove,
geranium, iris, lily, lily of the valley,
tulip, hyacinth
Should your dog ingest any of the
above, there is help available. The
American Kennel Club (AKC) Vetline
offers 24/7 access to trained pet care
professionals and licensed veterinary
staff who can help with questions about
poisoning, as well as general canine
healthcare issues related to illness,
injury, nutrition, and when a dog should
be examined by a veterinarian.
chief veterinary officer Dr. Jerry Klein
recommends that you survey your
yard, identify any plants that may be
dangerous, and restrict your dog's
access to them. If you know or even
think your dog may have ingested
something that may cause harm,
seek professional help. "The most
common mistake pet owners make
is to wait to see if the dog becomes
ill before contacting the veterinarian,"
Dr. Klein says.
something toxic, follow these steps:
1. Contact your veterinarian or AKC
call the Pet Poison Helpline at
855-764-7661 for accurate advice.
Note: the helpline will charge a fee
when you call.
has vomited, collect some in a
plastic bag.
information as possible, including
the suspected plant and time of
ingestion, your dog's weight, and
symptoms the dog is showing.
to do so. Specific plant poisons
require precise treatments, and in
some cases, vomiting can make
the situation worse.
This is sometimes true of animals
in the wild, but dogs do not have
the ability to distinguish between
safe and toxic plants.
owners have chosen to send their dogs
to Liberty Hill Pet Resort when they
need to be out of town. It provides
the ideal "country location" for your
pet and offers a host of obedience
and other training. To learn more, call
(540) 439-7297.