Glenbrook Cocker Spaniels

Dangers in the Home



TOXIC OR DANGEROUS FOODS

Alcohol: Alcohol is significantly more toxic to dogs than to humans. When consumed, even small quantities of alcoholic beverages and food products can be potentially harmful.

Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhoea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, blood changes, coma and even death. 

Avocado: The fruit and seed pit in avocadoes contain a toxic element called persin which can damage the heart, lung and other tissues. They are high in fat content and can trigger vomiting or even pancreatitis. The seed pit if swallowed can become lodged in the intestinal tract where it may cause a severe blockage.

Diarrhoea, vomiting, laboured breathing, pancreatitis. Can be potentially fatal.

Chocolate, Coffee and Caffeine: Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine that can cause vomiting in small doses and potential death if ingested in larger quantities. The more cocoa that is in the chocolate, the more toxic it is. Dark chocolate and cooking chocolate are more toxic than milk or white chocolate. The severity will depend on the type of chocolate, the amount consumed and the size of the dog. Coffee and caffeine have similarly dangerous chemicals.

Symptoms: Excitability, fast heart rate, tremors, vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures, and potential death.

Cooked Bones and Fatty Foods: Do not feed any cooked bones. They can become brittle when cooked which causes them to splinter. The splinters have sharp edges that can become stuck in the teeth, cause choking or rupture or puncture the stomach lining or intestinal tract. Rich, fatty foods like chicken skin, bacon, sausages etc can also be very dangerous to dogs susceptible to attacks of pancreatitis. 

Symptoms: Pale gums, gasping for breath, pawing at the face, slow, shallow breathing, unconscious with dilated pupils. Vomiting (sometimes with diarrhoea) and abdominal pain. 

Corn on the Cob: Corn unlike most vegetables does not digest well in a dog's stomach. If your dog swallows large chunks of the cob, or even whole, it can cause an intestinal blockage due to its size and shape.

Symptoms: Vomiting, loss of appetite, absence of faeces or diarrhoea and abdominal pain.

Fruit Pits and Seeds: Apple seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides which can cause cyanide poisoning. The raw fruit is safe but not the core or seeds. Similarly apricot, peach, cherry stones etc. also contain these chemicals which cause cyanide poisoning.

Diarrhoea, vomiting, laboured breathing.

Macadamia Nuts and Macadamia Butter: The toxic element is unknown but eating just a few nuts can be dangerous. 

Symptoms: Pale gum colour, elevated body temperature, depression, vomiting, tremors, pain, inability to stand up, weakness and paralysis. 

Milk Products: As dogs do not have significant amounts of the enzyme lactase that breaks down lactose in milk, feeding your dog milk and other milk-based products can cause digestive problems.

Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhoea.

Mouldy Food: Mouldy food, including bread, nuts and dairy products, contain toxins such as penicillium mould toxins and tremorenic mycotoxins that could potentially make your dog very ill. Dispose of leftovers carefully and be careful to keep your food waste bin well out of their reach. Spoiled foods can cause food poisoning resulting in vomiting and diarrhoea.

Symptoms: Seizures, tremors

Mushrooms: Mushroom poisoning can be fatal if certain species of mushrooms are consumed. The most dangerous type of mushroom is the Amanita phalloides which contain amanitin toxins. 

​Symptoms: Depression, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, poor coordination, collapse. In severe cases toxicity can lead to liver failure, kidney failure and death. 

Nutmeg: Avoid feeding ginger bread and nutmeg laced products. Other common pantry items such as baking powder and baking soda are also highly toxic to dogs. 

Symptoms: Nutmeg is reported to be a hallucinogenic when ingested in large doses and has been known to cause tremors, seizures and in some cases, death.

Onions and Garlic: Onions contain the toxic ingredient thiosulphate which causes hemolytic anemia and damage to the red blood cells. Onions should not be fed to dogs in any form. Due to damage to the red blood cells, symptoms may be seen within 24 hours to several days after ingestion. While garlic also contains the same toxic ingredient, it  is less toxic and large amounts would need to be consumed to cause illness.

Symptoms: Pale gums, fast heart rate, rapid breathing, depression, weakness, red coloured urine, vomiting and diarrhoea. 

Rasins, Sultanas and Grapes: These fruits can induce kidney failure. Even a small number can cause problems in some dogs.

Depression, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain, diarrhoea, increased drinking or urination. Signs are due to kidney failure. 

Salt: Salty foods such as chips or pretzels are not good for your dog. Eating too much salt induces thirst which can lead to sodium ion poisoning.

Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhoea, depression, high temperature, tremors and seizures.

Sugar Free Foods: Sugar free foods such as lollies, gum etc. contain xylitol which is toxic to dogs.

Symptoms: Rapid drop in blood sugar, weakness and seizures. Liver failure has been reported. 

Tomatoes and Potatoes: Unripened or green tomatoes and tomato plants contain a toxin called solanine. Ripe tomatoes do not cause problems to dogs if consumed. Green potatoes and sprouting potaotes also produce toxin and are unsuitable for dogs.

Symptoms: Gastrointestinal distress, lethargy, weakness and confusion.

Yeast Dough: Yeast dough can cause gas to accumulate in your dog’s digestive system as a result of the dough rising. Not only can this be painful but it may also cause the stomach or intestines to become blocked. 

Symptoms: Abdominal pain, bloating of the abdomen, difficulty walking, depression, coma and possible death. 

 

TOXIC PLANTS

Plant Name

Description

Symptoms

Cannabis

The leaves, fresh or dry, stems and seeds are highly toxic to dogs.

Incoordination, tremors, drooling, seizures, possible respiratory problems, depression,  and coma.

Lilies

There are dangerous and benign lilies. Peace, Peruvian and Calla lilies all contain oxalate crystals that elicit minor irritation to the mouth, tongue, pharynx and oesophagus.  The more dangerous and potentially fatal lilies are Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter and Japanese Show lilies all of which are highly toxic.

Vomiting, diarrhoea, lack of appetite, stomach pain, and difficulty swallowing. In regard to the toxic lilies, even small ingestions such as 2 or 3 petals can result in kidney failure. 

Sago

Cycads – all parts of the plant are highly toxic to dogs.

Vomiting, diarrhoea, liver damage, multiple organ failure and in severe cases, death.

Ivy

English Ivy, Devil’s Ivy / Golden Pothos have moderate toxicity to dogs.

Mouth and stomach irritation, excessive drooling, foaming at the mouth, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Philodendrons

Swiss Cheese plant, Heartleaf and Fiddle Leaf philodendron, have a toxicity level of mild to moderate.

Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

Rubber Tree Plant

Some rubber tree plants (Japanese, Chinese, Jade, Indian) are toxic to dogs.

Decreased appetite, drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, and skin irritation. 

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera’s level of toxicity is mild to moderate for dogs.

Vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, depression, anorexia, tremors and changes in urine.

Chinese Evergreen

Chinese evergreen’s level of toxicity is mild to moderate, though symptoms can include liver and kidney damage.

Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing.

Asparagus Fern

Asparagus fern, also known as Emerald Feather and Lace Fern is mild to moderate in toxicity .

Allergic dermatitis, drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain.

Lantana

Considered a weed in Australia, extremely toxic to dogs.

Depression, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, loss of appetite, shock, abdominal swelling, paralysis, possible liver failure.

Oleander

An outdoor shrub.  Leaves and flowers are extremely toxic if ingested.

Severe vomiting, slowing of the heart rate and possibly death.

Azalea

In the same family as Rhododendrons, Azaleas can have a serious effect on dogs.  Even eating just a few leaves. They contain grayanotoxins. These toxins interrupt the sodium channels in cardiac and skeletal muscles.

Vomiting, diarrhoea and excessive drooling.  Without intervention, the dog could fall into a coma and die.

Cyclamen

The roots of the Cyclamen are especially dangerous.

If ingested can cause vomiting, paralysis, digestive problems, even death.

Kalanchoe

A popular flowering succulent plant.

Can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and heart arrhythmias if ingested. 

Daffodils

Daffodil bulbs are toxic, but  not severely toxic. Your dog needs to consume a fair amount to be poisoned, even then, will rarely die from daffodil poisoning.

Nausea, vomiting and can be fatal.

Dieffenbachia

Also known as Dumb Cane. This is because the plant can be highly toxic. The reason why dieffenbachia is toxic is due to its inherent qualities. Within the stem or leaf of a dieffenbachia, you will usually find enzymes and acids in the form of crystals that can release into the dog’s mouth or stomach and cause poisoning.

Ingesting the stem or leaves can lead to irritation, resulting in vomiting or diarrhea.

If the crystals burst in the mouth, they can lead to swelling or blistering.

A dog severely allergic to the plant can experience hives or breathing issues.

Tulips and Hyacinths

Tulips contain allergenic lactone and hyacinths contain a similar alkaloids.  The toxin is highly concentrated in the bulbs.

Can cause irritation to the mouth and oesophagus eliciting profuse drooling, vomiting, and diarrhoea.  Large ingestions can increase heart rates and causes changes in respiration.

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums are many toxic plants that can harm your dog. Chrysanthemums contain pyrethins and sesquiterpene, both of which are irritants to a dog's skin and digestive systems.

Signs that might indicate your pup has ingested flowers, leaves or stems of mums include vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling, lack of coordination and dermatitis.

Rhubarb Leaves

A dropped scrap of rhubarb won’t likely cause a problem, but don’t intentionally feed rhubarb to a dog.

 

Signs of toxicity from rhubarb include drooling, low appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting.

 

Crocus

There are two crocus.  One that blooms in Spring and the other in Autumn.  Spring plants are more common and are part of the Iridaceae Family, they are considered mildly  toxic. The Autumn Crocus, however, is a deadly highly toxic autumn flower. Their bright blooms hold a toxin that can make your dog incredibly unwell.

Ingestions can cause general gastrointestinal issues including vomiting and diarrhoea.  Autumn crocus can cause severe vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver and kidney damage and respiratory failure.  Signs can be delayed for up to 5 days.

Lily of the Valley

This plant contains cardiac glycosides which cause similar symptoms to digitalis ingestion.

Vomiting, diarrhoea, a drop in heart rate, severe cardia arrhythmias and possibly seizures.

Acacia

Wattle.  From the leaves to the flowers to the seeds. All parts of an Acacia tree or shrub is highly toxic to your dog.

Vomiting, anxiety, disorientation, shaking, drooling, seizures, and sudden death.

Eucalyptus

 

Gum Trees. All parts of the Eucalyptus is very dangerous to dogs.

Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, depression and weakness.

Angels Trumpet

 

Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia) has such pretty flowers. In those flowers lies a deadly toxin called tropane alkaloids. Flowers and leaves are toxic.

 Disorientation, increased heart rate, dilated pupils, loss of appetite, and vomiting.

Black Locust

 

(Robinia pseudoacacia) Black Locust is a highly toxic plant to dogs. The culprits are toxins called toxalbumins. These cause cell damage and cell death. All parts but especially leaves and seeds.

Weakness, depression, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis)

 

The castor oil plant is one of the most deadly plants in the world for dogs and humans alike. The seeds contain ricin which is a highly toxic chemical. All parts but especially seeds.

Burning of the mouth, kidney failure, vomiting, diarrhea, and convulsions.

Cherry tree (Prunus serrulata)

 

Cherry tree plants contain a chemical that metabolizes into cyanide when ingested. Other similar trees which contain this chemical include Apricot and Cherry trees.

Some of the symptoms of apricot tree poisoning include widened pupils, irregular breathing, annexations, and coma.

Daphne 

 

Daphne is poisonous to dogs. The toxins in the daphne are similar to the toxins found in the Euphorbiaceae family.  The bark, leaves and fruit are toxic.

Blistering around mouth and tongue, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting.

 

Elderberry (Sambucus)

 

Elderberry is another plant that has cyanide running through its veins. All parts apart from the fully ripened berry are highly toxic to your dog. It can cause severe poisoning within 10-15 minutes. It can kill your dog within 30 minutes.

Dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, red gums, and sudden death.

 

Elephant Ear Plant (Colocasia)

 

Elephant Ear Plant belongs to the same family of toxic plants as Devil’s Ivy and Dumb Cane. This is a mild-moderate poisoning. 

 Drooling, burning around the mouth, decreased appetite, and vomiting.

Foxgloves (Digitalis)

 

Foxgloves may be beautiful but are very toxic to animals. The trumpet shapes flowers contain heart killing toxins. These are called cardiac glycoside toxins.

If your dog ingests enough of the plant, it could be life-threatening. Abnormal heart rate, drooling, nausea, vomiting, dilated pupils, tremors and seizure.

 Golden Chain (Laburnum)

 

 This plant is poison all over! It’s unlikely to kill your dog straight away but may if left untreated. It will certainly make them very sick. 

Vomiting, diarrhea, blue tint to the skin, convulsions, dehydration, weakness.

Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

 

Hemlock is often named Poison Hemlock for a reason. It is highly toxic and can severely harm your dog if they eat any part of the plant.

 Drooling, vomiting, paralysis, and can cause death.

Holly (Ilex varieties)

 

Apart from the spiky leaves that can injure your dog, ingesting the berries or anything else will release a cocktail of toxins.

Drooling, and lip smacking.

Hydrangeas

 

Hydrangeas are a gardener’s staple. They are also mildly poisonous to dogs

Depression, lethargy, vomiting, raised heart rate, diarrhoea.

Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

 

Jack-in-the-pulpit is perfectly safe when cooked and dried. The mother plant is incredibly toxic. It contains calcium oxalate crystals which are responsible for a burning sensation in the mouth and oesophagus.

Drooling, burning around the mouth and tongue, vomiting.

Leather Flower (Clematis)

 

Clematis or Leather Flower is an interesting case. It is part of the ranunculus family. It contains toxins called protoamenonins. These cause mild symptoms if not much of the plant is eaten. If your dog eats a lot, the poisoning can be quite severe. Even deadly if left untreated. 

Drooling, vomiting, bloody stools, blistering around the mouth, abdominal pain

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

 

Peace Lilies are an interesting inclusion to this list of plants poisonous to dogs. If your dog eats any part of your blooming Peace Lily, they will likely have some stomach upset and irritation around their mouth. 

Irritated mouth, drooling, vomiting (sometimes).

Madagascar Jasmine (Stephanotis floribunda)

 

Madagascar Jasmine is also known as wax flower. It is mostly irritating as opposed to outright toxic, though it depends on how much of your dog eats.

Allergic skin reaction, heart damage, liver damage, central nervous system issues

Mistletoe (Viscum album)

 

The symptoms of Mistletoe poisoning are similar to that of Holly poisoning. The symptoms are pretty mild if your dog only eats a little. If they eat a lot, they can display more severe symptoms that may need medical attention. 

Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, collapse, seizures, death in extreme cases.

Star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum) 

 

Star-of-Bethlehem is in the same family of plants as Lily of the Valley, Oleanders and Foxgloves. You can expect the same symptoms and levels of toxicity as those. 

Drooling, vomiting, abnormal heart rhythm, dilated pupils, seizures, tremors

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Brunfelsia)

 

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow plants are quite unique as toxic plants. They attack the nervous system with a depressant toxin and a stimulant toxin. This leads to mostly coordination and mental health issues that you’ll notice. It’s like your dog has been drugged! If they display these symptoms, rush them to an emergency vet immediately for investigation. 

Vomiting, anxiousness, disorientation and coordination issues, seizures, tremors, shock.
 

Ficus

Ficus have high toxicity levels in both their leaves and fruits. It contains a sap that itself has explicit enzymes that cause Ficus poisoning to the dogs.

Your pups can have dermal irritation when Ficus leaves interact with their skin. Similarly, oral irritation, diarrhea, and vomiting are common reactions when your dog  ingests toxic parts of the Ficus tree.

Horse Chestnut

 

These trees drop solid and dark brown nuts which are very toxic for dogs. The leaves, flowers, and barks of this tree are also deadly for dogs. It contains Aesculin, a glycosidic saponin, which is a deadly toxin and can cause severe complications.

Some of the most common symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and dilated pupils. In extreme cases, Horse Chestnut affects the central nervous system and can lead to coma. The large size of the nut can also pose choking risks.

Japanese Yew

 

Japanese Yew is a member of the Taxaceae family. Although the berries aren’t toxic to dogs, the leaves, seeds, and bay are extremely poisonous to them.

This toxin can cause shocks, nausea, struggle while breathing, and seizures.

Boxwood

 

This tree is known as Buxus spp. Its family name is Buxaceae and is considered a toxic species for dogs. The whole tree is poisonous as it contains alkaloids. Its toxicity level is so high that a very small quantity can cause substantial symptoms.

This plant can cause congestion of the lungs, kidneys, heart, and liver. This will then result in organ failure and death.

Wisteria

The seedpods are similar to peapods and are the most poisonous with high levels of lectin and wisterin toxins. Both of these can be lethal if seed pods or seeds are eaten, or if a large amount of flowers or foliage is consumed. There is no immediate pain or foul taste so your dog may continue to eat until a fatal amount is consumed.

Both toxins can result in fatalities, but the seed pods and the seeds themselves are the most toxic. Lectin results in clumping of the blood cells and produces dangerous blood clotting and possible stroke. The wisterin glycoside can also be fatal by causing severe diarrhea and vomiting that can result in dehydration and death.

 Dangerous Household Items

Garden herbicides and insecticides

Herbicides, insecticide baits, sprays and granules are often used in gardens without consideration of the effects these chemicals may have on pets. Slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde are toxic, and can be lethal, to dogs if ingested.  Signs of poisoning begin within one to four hours of exposure.

Fly bait and garden insecticides often contain methomyl or carbofuran, which can cause seizures and respiratory arrest in dogs and cats. Organophosphate toxicity from garden insecticides may lead to chronic anorexia, muscle weakness and muscle twitching which may last for days or weeks. These insecticides cause seizures and shaking due to continuous nervous transmission to nervous tissue, organs and muscles.

Antifreeze

As little as half a teaspoon of spilled antifreeze can kill a small sized dog. Unless you catch it early, the damage to pets’ kidneys can be irreversible. Pet owners should be aware of the potential danger of antifreeze, and keep an eye out for any small green puddles in the garage or the pavement where cars are parked.

Household cleaners

Cleaning products with ingredients such as bleach, ammonia, chlorine, glycol ethers or formaldehyde can put pets at risk for cancer, anemia, liver and kidney damage.  Ammonia, found in oven cleaners and window cleaning formulations, is an irritant to the mucous membranes. Chlorine is a toxic respiratory irritant that can damage pets’ skin, eyes or other membranes. It can be found in all-purpose cleaners, automatic dishwashing detergents, tile scrubs, disinfecting wipes, toilet-bowl cleaners, laundry detergents and mildew removers. 

 Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is present in many new home furnishings, household cleaners and some construction materials. It is considered toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Formaldehyde has been shown to cause cancer in animals.  Pets can inhale formaldehyde from new fabrics, wood-veneer furniture, laminated flooring, wood paneling and doors made of particleboard, plywood, and medium density fiberboard.  New furnishings which contain formaldehyde should be set outdoors for a few days before bringing into the home. Rooms which contain new furniture or draperies should be well ventilated. 

 Mothballs

Mothballs, when used properly, are effective at killing moths. But used carelessly, they pose a hidden health threat to pets. Inhalation of mothball vapors causes headaches, respiratory distress, eye irritation and many other symptoms. Ingestion causes toxic poisoning leading to liver damage, respiratory failure, seizures, heart arrhythmia, and the possibility of death. The ingestion of just one mothball can produce significant illness. Repeated inhalation of fumes or ingestion of a few mothballs can be fatal to cats and dogs.



            

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Janette Llewellyn
Mornington Peninsula, VIC, Australia
Phone : 0409434996
Email : [email protected]

 

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