Whatever the season, all sorts of flowers, plants and foliage grow and bloom. Here are just some of the common ones that are toxic to dogs.
Every season has different flowers, plants, and leaves that grow and bloom. There are heat waves in the summer, cooler months in the fall, snow in the winter, and rain in the spring.
You can take steps to make sure you don’t plant any poisonous flowers in your garden, but there are also risks you might face on your daily dog walks.
With their lush, vibrant blooms, peonies are a quintessential flower for cottage gardens. However, these beauties pose a hidden danger – they are toxic to dogs.
If you have peonies in your garden or flower arrangements, it’s crucial to know how to prevent peony poisoning in dogs. This article covers everything you need to know about peony toxicity, from symptoms to treatment.
What Parts of the Peony Are Toxic?
All parts of the peony plant contain substances that can cause illness in dogs, This includes the
- Flowers
- Leaves
- Stems
- Roots
The highest concentration of toxins is in peony roots, But even just nibbling a few petals or leaves can make dogs sick,
Toxic Compounds in Peonies
The main toxic compound in peonies is called paeonol. While paeonol has some medicinal uses for humans, it causes gastrointestinal distress in dogs.
Other potentially toxic substances in peonies include oxypaeoniflorin and albiflorin But the specific toxins and their levels can vary among the many peony species and cultivars.
Bottom line – it’s best to consider the entire plant hazardous to dogs.
Common Signs of Peony Poisoning in Dogs
Ingesting any part of a peony plant causes similar symptoms in dogs:
- Excessive drooling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea (may be bloody)
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Dehydration
These signs of toxicity typically appear within a few hours of a dog eating part of a peony plant. Quick action is needed to prevent serious illness.
Are Some Dog Breeds More Susceptible?
All breeds of dogs are vulnerable to peony poisoning. However, smaller dogs are more likely to get sick from ingesting a relatively small amount.
Larger dog breeds can typically consume more plant matter without illness. But no dog should ever be allowed to purposefully eat any part of a peony plant.
Can Peonies Kill Dogs?
In most cases, peony poisoning causes gastrointestinal upset but is not life-threatening. With prompt treatment, dogs make a full recovery.
However, a few situations can result in deadly peony poisoning:
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The dog consumes a very large quantity of foliage or roots.
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The dog is small or a puppy.
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The dog has underlying health issues.
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Treatment is delayed and dehydration or electrolyte imbalances become severe.
While fatal peony poisoning is rare, it’s critical to get prompt veterinary care if a dog ingests this plant. Don’t wait and see if symptoms resolve on their own.
Diagnosing Peony Poisoning in Dogs
If you see your dog eat any part of a peony plant, call your vet immediately. Take along a sample of the plant or a photo to confirm the species.
The vet will likely induce vomiting to purge any remaining plant from your dog’s stomach. Then they’ll examine your dog for symptoms of toxicity.
Tests like bloodwork, urinalysis, and abdominal palpation can check for dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Your vet may also do x-rays or an ultrasound to look for masses of undigested plant material.
Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and preventing dehydration. In mild cases, dogs may recover at home with medication and close monitoring. More severe poisoning requires hospitalization for IV fluids and medication.
How to Treat Peony Poisoning in Dogs
For mild cases of peony poisoning, the vet may prescribe:
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Anti-nausea medication – to control vomiting and nausea
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Antacids – to reduce gastrointestinal inflammation
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IV fluids – to prevent dehydration from fluid loss
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Bland diet – to allow the stomach to rest and heal
More severe cases often require:
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Hospitalization – for close monitoring and prompt treatment
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Aggressive IV fluid therapy – to restore electrolyte balances
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Medication to treat bleeding – if bloody diarrhea occurs
With appropriate treatment, most dogs make a full recovery within a couple days. But without treatment, peony poisoning can rapidly become life-threatening.
At-Home Care and Monitoring
Once your dog is home after peony poisoning, follow your vet’s care instructions closely. Typical recommendations include:
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Giving all prescribed medications and treatments
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Feeding a bland diet of rice, chicken, and cottage cheese
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Monitoring your dog’s appetite, energy levels, and bowel movements
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Watching for vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or other recurring symptoms
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Calling the vet immediately if symptoms don’t resolve within 48 hours
Your vet may want to do a follow-up exam and repeat bloodwork after a few days to ensure your dog has fully recovered.
Preventing Peony Poisoning in Dogs
The safest approach is to not have peonies in your garden if you have dogs. But if you can’t bear to part with these classic blooms, take these precautions:
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Plant peonies well away from areas your dog frequents. Select a location they can’t access.
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Surround peonies with temporary fencing during the flowering season. Use mesh fencing or chicken wire sunk several inches into the ground.
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Train your dog to avoid the peony area and provide plenty of alternative plants they can nibble.
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Remove and discard fallen peony petals, leaves, and flowers before they can be eaten.
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Opt for small flower arrangements set out of reach of pets rather than big vases overflowing with peonies
What flowers are poisonous to dogs?
You’ll definitely see daffodils in the spring—there are at least 25 different kinds and thousands of hybrids. Just keep an eye on your dog so it doesn’t chew on the flower or the bulb. Daffodils contain alkaloids and glycosides, which are toxic to dogs.
This yellow weed doesn’t usually grow in gardens, but you’ve probably seen it when you walk your dog through fields or parks nearby. Like daffodils, it contains toxic alkaloids.
A popular vase filler in houses, lilies are toxic to dogs, some more than others. If you want to be safe and keep your dog from eating them by accident, don’t grow these in your garden or leave them on the window sill.
While tulips are a pretty flower in the spring, they contain glycosides that can make your dog sick in a number of ways.
Peonies are very pretty, but they contain paeonol, which is poisonous to dogs and can make them sick if they eat it.
Hyacinths can be found in gardens or as houseplants in pots, but they can be bad for both people and dogs’ health. Keep your dog away from this flower and its bulbs because they contain harmful calcium oxalate crystals that can be very bad for their health if they eat them. The plant itself can also be bad for their health if they breathe it in.
What plants are poisonous?
Not all ferns are dangerous for dogs, but bracken can be very bad for their health, so stay away from these plants on walks.
Some toxins in ivy can make a dog sick or cause skin problems, depending on how much the dog touches the plant.
You might see foxglove on a walk or have it blooming in your garden. If you do, be careful with the trumpet-shaped flowers because the whole plant is poisonous if eaten.
Dogs should not eat unripe, green, or raw potatoes. Also, the leaves of the potato plant are poisonous, so if you like to garden or walk by a farmer’s field, make sure your dog doesn’t chew on some potato leaves.
When you have an aloe vera plant in your home, make sure your dog can’t get to it. The plant has a chemical called saponin that is harmful to both kids and animals.
Everyone loves conkers, which are a sure sign that fall has arrived, but dogs should never chew on or eat them. This is because conkers contain a chemical called aesculin.
Apple cores and seeds contain cyanide, so you should take them out before giving them to your dog. Apples are great treats for dogs and help keep their teeth clean.
Like apple seeds, cherry seeds and leaves contain cyanide and can also block the digestive tract if eaten. This means that our dogs shouldn’t eat cherries.
Acorns have tannic acid in them, which can hurt a dog’s liver and kidneys. Like cherry seeds, they can also block a dog’s intestines, so watch your dog carefully when you go for walks in the fall.
You might not want to use holly as a Christmas decoration because the berries can make your dog throw up and have diarrhea, and the leaves can hurt them if they eat them.
Peony Poisoning in Dogs | Wag!
FAQ
What happens if my dog eats peony?
Are peony petals poisonous?
Which common flower is highly toxic to dogs?
Are peonies safe for dogs and cats?
Are peonies poisonous to dogs?
The plant can bloom for decades if given the right conditions and comes in hundreds of varieties. Though the peony is a beautiful plant that fills garden spaces with vibrant colors, it does pose a poisonous risk to our pets. Cats, dogs, and horses have been reported to suffer gastrointestinal effects from eating the plant.
What happens if a dog eats a peony plant?
If your dog ingests the flowers or leaves, he can experience extreme vomiting, an abnormal heart rate, and even death. Other signs to look for include tremors, drooling, seizures, and weakness. Peony: These gorgeous flowering plants contain the toxin paeonol in their bark. They may cause vomiting and diarrhea, if ingested in large amounts.
Are peonies toxic?
In terms of the toxic properties of peonies, the plant does contain some toxic compounds, such as saponins, tannins, and alkaloids. However, the amount of these compounds in the plant is very small, and it would take a very large ingestion for it to cause any harm.
Can a dog eat a peony bush?
If your dog has the opportunity to consistently eat from the garden he will experience gastrointestinal upset upon ingestion of the peony plant. If you suspect that your dog has eaten from your peony bush or he comes in from the yard and appears unwell, a veterinary visit is in order.