What happens if a puppy eats plants? Tips and Tricks

Why Eating Plants Occurs in Dogs

Taste

Some of the ornamental plants that we use in our landscaping or put in our homes are actually very tasty to our dogs. When you are deciding on your landscaping and houseplants, be sure to research each plant carefully to ensure that they are not toxic to your dog.

Nutritional Deficiency

There is a wide range of commercial dog foods on the market for you to choose from and they should all be nutritionally complete. Ensure you are feeding a complete diet rather than a filler or a complementary food. Some dogs with underlying medical issues, such as IBD or EPI, may not be absorbing their food as they should. This can lead to deficiencies over time.

Nausea

Generally, dogs will chew on grass to alleviate nausea by inducing vomiting. This will help them feel better, but if you notice that they vomiting excessively you need to take them in for a check-up with your veterinarian. There may be a more serious underlying problem that needs to be diagnosed and treated.

Gas

Gas is simply a sign of gastrointestinal upset and if your dog is feeling gassy they will try to lessen the uncomfortable sensations they are having. They will alleviate gassy feelings by eating certain plants, causing them to have a bowel movement or vomit. Be aware that certain commercial dog foods and treats can cause your dog to become bloated and full of gas.

Boredom

Dogs that do not have stimulating interactions often will become bored and will look for things to do. They may eat plants as a way of occupying themselves. Provide your dog with plenty of interesting toys and allow them to have plenty of exercise time. Some dogs that are high energy or high intelligence would benefit greatly from interactive or puzzle toys.

Trees, Shrubs, and Other Poisonous Plants to Dogs

If your dog seems to be having a bad response to ingesting a plant, call your veterinarian or an animal poisoning hotline.

Because there are so many plants around us every day, its hard to provide a completely comprehensive list of safe and unsafe plants for dogs. But Tina Wismer, DVM, MS, DABVT, DABT, a veterinarian and senior director at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, shared with us 5 common plant culprits with more severe clinical signs.

“Eating any plant can cause stomach upset, vomiting, and diarrhea in pets,” Wismer points out. But she says vets see more severe signs of poisoning from these plants:

Sago palm (Cyccas revoluta) is used as a landscape plant in the southern U.S. and is a houseplant in colder climates. Its toxic to all pets (that includes cats, too) and can cause symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, liver failure, and potentially death. All parts of the sago palm are poisonous, but the seed or “nuts” contain the largest amount of toxins.

Lily of the valley (Convallaria spp.) is a common landscaping plant. Even a small exposure to any part of the lily of the valley plant can cause dangerous changes in a dogs heart rate and rhythm.

Oleander (Nerium oleander) is another common landscaping plant, especially on the west coast. Like lily of the valley, oleander also contains cardiac glycosides, which increase the hearts output and contractions, changing a dogs heart rate and heart rhythm.

Castor bean (Ricinus communis) is a plant that grows wild, is sometimes used in landscaping, and whose seeds can be used to make jewelry. Castor bean is highly toxic and can cause severe stomach upset, liver failure, and tremors.

Marijuana (Cannabis sativa), grown for human recreational and medicinal uses, if eaten by dogs can cause depression, unsteady gait, low heart rate, and low temperature. Ingestion of more concentrated THC products can cause more severe signs, including seizures.

Heres a sampling of other outdoor plants whose leaves, berries, stems, and more can poison dogs who eat them:

Autumn crocus

Azalea

Boxwood

Chrysanthemum

Cyclamen

English ivy

Foxglove

Hemlock

Mistletoe

Mushrooms you dont recognize as safe

Night blooming jasmine is toxic if ingested, especially the berries. Plants in the Jasmine family, however, are not toxic.

Rhododendron

Rhubarb

Tulip/Narcissus bulbs

Wisteria

Yew

Both the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and Pet Poison Helpline have searchable lists of toxic and non-toxic plants.

Is Eating Leaves or Grass a Problem?

The answer is a definite maybe. It really depends on two things: the reason your dog’s eating leaves or grass and the type of leaves or grass he’s ingesting. As we’ve discussed, there are some health reasons why your dog might be eating grass or leaves, and for those, you want your vet to check him out.

But the type of leaves or grass he’s eating could also cause health problems. For example, if your dog eats grass after you’ve applied pesticides or herbicides to kill certain weeds, that could result in something known as organophosphate poisoning.

If your dog ingests chemicals like that, the first symptom you see is usually excessive drooling. If you know you’ve applied these chemicals to your yard, it’s best to keep your pet away from them until they are absorbed. This kind of toxicity requires emergency treatment, and without it, it can be fatal.

Moreover, there are also many plants that are toxic for your dog. The ASPCA has a list on its website of the plants that are toxic to dogs, cats, and other animals. The list is comprehensive and includes pictures as well as a hotline you can call if your dog has ingested one of these plants.

As with the ingestion of a pesticide or herbicide, if your dog has ingested a toxic plant, you will often see excessive drooling, and that may be followed by vomiting or even seizures. If you think this has happened, call your vet and take your dog in immediately.

HOW TO STOP YOUR DOG FROM EATING YOUR PLANTS | TIPS and TRICKS | NEW PUPPY !!!

It’s perfectly fine for your dog to occasionally chomp on some grass, as soon as they start going for your garden or house plants though, you’ve got a problem on your hands. It’s not only frustrating for you as your beautiful plants are being destroyed – but some plants can make your pooch extremely ill. So, this is not a habit you want to sweep under the rug. Here are some tips on how to stop Fido from destroying your beautiful plants.