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Common Doggie Hazards
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Homemade Playdough - Toxic
Homemade playdough consists of flour,
water and salt. Dogs may enjoy the salty taste, however it can cause salt
toxicity, which can be fatal. When a large amount of salt is ingested, the
sodium diffuses throughout the body. When the sodium reaches the brain and
central nervous system, water builds up and tissues swell. As the brain swells,
pressure builds up resulting in severe neurological disorders. As the pressure
builds, it causes seizures, coma and death. There is no antidote for salt
toxicity. In some mild cases, where less salt is ingested, the dog may survive,
however, if the dog eats enough, it is fatal.
"Most dogs
probably won't eat it but mine did and we had to put her down. Recipes for
playdough contain a lot of salt, usually 1/2 cup, and I learned first hand that
this can be lethal. In our ignorance, we thought nothing of her eating the
playdough, but her sodium levels were soon so high, that she went into seizures
and by the time we got her to the vet, our best option was to euthanize her as
she was suffering brain damage due to swelling of her brain." |
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Black
Locust Tree
The seed from the Black Locust tree is poisonous
to dogs and humans if ingested. The seeds come in pods that look
like black banana pods. The seeds themselves are very hard, but look like
oversized milk duds. They fall from the tree at certain times of year and that
is when it is hazardous. The side effects may include vomiting, neurological
effects, which prevent the dog from being able to walk. Also loss of appetite. |
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Antifreeze
Antifreeze is perhaps the number one hazard to a dog. Less than one tablespoon of anti-freeze could be lethal to a 20-pound dog. Antifreeze smells sweet and is very deadly. If the antidote isn't
given within 24 hours, the dog is likely to die. When storing your antifreeze, keep it
well out of reach. Check under your car from time to time to make sure it is not leaking
on to the ground. Your dog will smell the sweet smell and may lick it up. You may want to
use a new, less toxic antifreeze. It's still poisonous, but not as much as the traditional
kind. |
Garden Hazards
For dogs, gardens and lawns offer a virtual smorgasbord of smells,
and too often, tastes. More then a few plants, given a nibble or two, can turn your dog a
little green. Most just cause an upset stomach, but some can be deadly.
Make sure they are out of reach of your dog. |
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Almonds
Amaryllis leaves and flowers
Apricots
Autumn crocus bulbs
Azalea stems and leaves
Birds of paradise stems
Black-eyed Susan
Bleeding heart flowers and stems
Boxwood Bark, stems and leaves
Buttercup
Castor bean seeds (very toxic)
Cherry laurel wood and branches (very toxic)
Chinaberry tree wood and branches
Clematis stems and leaves
Daffodil bulbs
Day Lilies
Delphinium plants
Dumb cane leaves (very dangerous)
English ivy fruit
Flowers bulbs of any kind
Foxglove stems and flowers
Holly berries
Kalanchoe
Jack-in-the-pulpit
Jasmine leaves
Jerusalem cherry leaves and flowers
Jimsonweed or thorn apple (very dangerous)
Larkspur stems
Laburnum bark, flowers, seeds and leaves
Lily of the valley leaves and flowers
Locoweed
Lupine stems and flowers
Mistletoe berries (very poisonous)
Mountain laurel
Mushrooms- any that you can not identify as safe
Oleander bark, stems, and leaves (very dangerous)
Peaches
Philodendron
Pokeweed
Potatoes
Privet bush stems and leaves
Rhododendron leaves
Rhubarb leaves
Skunk cabbage leaves and flowers
Tiger Lilies
Tomatoes vines
Virginia creeper bark and stems
Wandering Jew
Wisteria bark and leaves
Yew bark, needles, and seeds (very dangerous) |
Chocolate
Chocolate is another common canine hazard. Although it may be your favorite
thing to eat, it can be very dangerous for your pet. Chocolate contains caffeine and a
related stimulant called theobromine, which can make your dog seriously ill. Both of these
stimulants can raise your dogs heart rate, occasionally to the point of being fatal.
Chocolate should be thought of as a poison to dogs.
The effect it has on your dog depends both on its size and the amount of
chocolate the dog consumed. The smaller the dog, the less chocolate it needs to eat in
order to overdose.
With Baking chocolate, half to one ounce can cause death in small dogs such as Toy Poodles, Yorkies and Chihuahuas. In medium sized dogs, such as Cocker
Spaniels and Beagles, the amount is two or three ounces. In
large dogs such as the Golden Retriever and Dalmatian the amount is eight ounces.
With milk chocolate, four to ten ounces can cause death in toy dogs, one to one
and a half pounds in medium-sized dogs; and two to four and a half pounds in large dogs.
A small amount may not cause death but it can make them very ill. Fortunately,
most dogs who overdose on chocolate just get an upset stomach with perhaps vomiting and
diarrhea.
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Holiday
Hazards
Around the holidays you need to be especially careful. Mistletoe, can be extremely poisonous. Tinsel can be dangerous
for your dog if he decides to eat it. You have to watch those thin glass Christmas balls
too. Also beware of Styrofoam. Styrofoam will not digest and may get stuck in
the intestines. Visit our Holiday First Aid page. |
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Other Hazards
Dogs can also be poisoned by Advil®, Tylenol® and aspirin. Do not give your dog human pain killers without consulting your veterinarian first. |
Grape
and raisin poisonings in Dogs
Wasp
and Bee stings can be deadly
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