12 Poisonous Weeds For Dogs That Could Be Harmful!

As a plant lover who has pet parents as well, you have to put your concern more about the poisonous plants for dogs. Because the dogs are active animals, you know they often tend to try and visit the plants that they think are attractive with their beautiful colors or fruit that may fall from the trees.

If you have a tree with edible fruits, then it is safe for you to let the dogs out and play around. But, what if you have poisonous plants in your yard that are harmful for your pets? You have to know the dangers of poisonous weeds for dogs.

The symptoms, the toxic parts, the various plants you should understand if you have dogs and various plants in your yard. Because there is a very toxic plant that will cause your pets to die for only 15 minutes after consuming it if you don’t call for veterinary care immediately.

Table of Contents

Poisonous Weeds For Dogs
Weeds That Can Injure Dogs

Poisonous Weeds For Dogs

Want to know more about the poisonous plants for dogs? Let’s just check it out!

1. Milkweed (Asclepias)

Milkweed or asclepias, is one of the ecosystems to keep the Monarchy butterfly alive. Yet, if you plant it in your yard, don’t let your dogs or any pets come near to this tree.

poisonous weeds for dogs — Milkweed (*Asclepias*)

This plant is similar to Oleander. It attacks the heart, causing an abnormal heart rate, cardiac failure, weakness and collapse. Drooling, nausea, and vomiting can happen too if the symptoms are not that heavy.

Therefore, if you want to plant this shrub, you can set the fence or make sure the dogs won’t come by since the flowers are so attractive for the pets.

2. Pokeweed (Phytolacca Decandra)

The berry seems tasty just by looking at the color, but be careful because your dogs are not allowed to consume these poisonous weeds for dogs. Because pokeweed or phytolacca decandra, contains saponins and oxalates in all parts.

It causes severe gastrointestinal irritation for your dogs. Excessive salivation, vomiting, refusal of food, diarrhea, possible tremors, and a drop in blood pressure may occur.

3. Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron Radicans)

When you walk around and see poisonous weeds for dogs,you have to be careful together. Although toxic for dogs, thankfully Poison Ivy is not as harmful as it is in humans. Because dogs have long fur, protective haircoats, the oils from poison ivy cannot reach the skin.

But still, you have to avoid this toxic plant while walking outside. As for the humans, you have to really, really avoid this plant, if you don’t want to feel that itchy and harsh on your skin.

4. Castor Bean (Ricinus Communis)

Castor bean or ricinus communis, seems only suitable for creating oil to solve dry skin and for the vehicle. For pets, like dogs, the seeds are very toxic. Symptoms of mild exposure that your dog might feel are loss of appetite, excessive thirst, vomiting, and diarrhea 12 – 48 hours after eating the beans.

As for the heavy symptoms, trembling, loss of coordination, seizures, coma, and death can follow for dogs eating the toxic quantity of beans.

Therefore, these poisonous weeds for dogs should be avoided. Castor beans produce the fruits that may attract the dogs. Moreover, the size is ready to eat for the animals.

5. Giant Hogweed (Heracleum Mantegazzianum)

This is one of the poisonous weeds for dogs that has flower clusters and beautiful color to see. If you find this giant hogweed, usually this toxic plant reaches 15 feet tall. And just like cow parsnip or water hemlock, this plant has an umbrella-type flower, or as we mentioned before, heracleum mantegazzianum or giant hogweed, produces flower clusters.

This poisonous plant can cause blindness if your dog’s eyes absorb some of the sap. Therefore, your dog should not stand near to this one. Because once the dog’s eyes get contact with its sap, then the blister, swelling, and blindness for the dogs cannot be avoided.

6. Jimsonweed (Thorn Apple)

The trumpet flowers might often be mistaken for lilies. Through the beauty of this flower, Jimsonweed is a poisonous plant in all parts of the tree. This toxic plant contains toxin tropane alkaloids, similar to the drug atropine.

The symptoms after consuming this one for your dog are dilated pupils, light sensitivity, restlessness, anxiousness, dryness of the mouth, constipation, increased heart rate and breathing, respiratory failure and many more.

Devil’s snare, the other name of this plant, has large white or violet flowers. The shape is a trumpet, just like a lily. This one is a nightshade plant, and considered as the invasive plant.

Therefore, you better not plant this one in your yard. The stems color is green or tinged with purple, and bear simple alternate leaves with toothed to lobed margins.

7. Mistletoe (Viscum Album)

Christmas with mistletoe is what you are waiting for. Decorating your house using these cute white fruits is very common. Yet, you have to watch out if your dog eats it since the size is ready to eat and during Christmas, the mistletoe is everywhere.

Severe mistletoe toxicity is uncommon, and mostly the symptoms can be seen after your dog ate in a large amount.

The symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea since the gastrointestinal is upset, difficult to breathe, low blood pressure and slowed heart rate, and some odd behaviors of your dog. It is because the major toxic chemicals in these poisonous weeds for dogs are lectins and phoratoxins.

Therefore, never ever put the mistletoe where your dogs can reach it.

8. Oleander (Nerium Oleander)

The flower bush is very pretty to look at, but Nerium Oleander is toxic for you and your dogs. This poisonous plant has a bitter taste, it causes the kids or pets to stop consuming it at the first try.

The toxic part of this one is in all parts, including leaves, stem and the flowers. The toxic of this one is called oleandrin or cardiac glycosides.

It can disrupt the electrolytes in the body, then it leads to an increase in potassium. Therefore, the irregular heartbeats can be felt after consuming this one.

This is one of the famous outdoor plants that you can find easily, but as pet parents, you have to make sure, your dog will not be attracted to this stunning color which makes them want to try it.

9. Hemlock (Tsuga)

Behind its pure white flower clusters, hemlock or Tsuga, is toxic not only for dogs, but also for humans. The symptom is too fast since for water hemlock, the deadly effect can be seen for only 15 minutes! Therefore, this plant should be avoided especially if you walk with your dogs around the streambanks or open fields.

The toxin cicutoxin, acting directly on the central nervous system, is a violent convulsant. Moreover, this plant starts growing in the spring. In the higher elevations, water hemlock flowers in June or July. So, you better beware of these toxic ones, because it is not only dogs that can get a fatal effect, it can be the children as well.

10. Mayapple (Podophyllum Peltatum)

Stunning flowers of the weeds that you often find during summer in the forest. The mayapple is a woodland plant. This poisonous weed for dogs often grows in thick patches or colonies.

They have two large lobed leaves per plant, a single white flower where the leaf stalks split, and a small fruit in summer.

Its fruit often attracts the dogs to try and consume it. Therefore you have to watch out for this one. Because once the dogs consume it, the result is gastrointestinal such as vomiting, diarrhea, drooling and dermal irritation.

Weeds That Can Injure Dogs

Dogs, actually not only have to be protected from the poisonous weeds, but also from the weeds that are potentially can harm them. We know some of you not put a high concern about this, but yes, weeds that can injure dogs should be avoided too. Especially when you are walking around with them.

If you still don’t have idea about the weeds that can harm dogs’ fur and skin, you better check this out and put your attention to its characteristics as pet parents to protect your ‘kids’.

11. Canada Wild Rye (Elymus Canadensis)

This short-lived perennial can grow up to 4 feet tall. Just like the grass that you often find. Also, this weed erects or arching stems during cool season.

Therefore, avoid going to the place with your dogs where there is Canada Wild Rye during cool season. Because the wild rye can harm the dogs through its sharp stems, when they want to have fun on the grass.

12. California Needle grass

This needlegrass is native to California. You can find it easily around the coastal hills, valleys, and mountain areas. This needlegrass can grow in various soils such as clay and serpentine soils.

Since the grass is sharp and harmful for your dogs’ skin and fur, better you have to pay more attention if you decide to explore nature together with dogs.

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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What to do if your dogs ate poisonous weed?

Immediately contact the veterinary care for the first help. If you already call the vet, you can induce your dog to vomit. Be gentle and do not panic because your dogs will feel more panic than you. Also, if the eyes hurt as well, you can flush your dog’s eyes with water.

Can dogs get sick eating weeds?

Yes, the plants above make dogs get sick after eating weeds. Jimsonweed, milkweed, and pokeweed are very common plants and easy to find, yet it is dangerous if your dogs tend to try it and you don’t know about it. The fatal effect can happen due to lack of knowledge about poisonous plants for dogs.

What happens if my dog eats poisonous plants?

Animals that eat plants can experience nausea, vomiting, drooling, slowed or abnormal heart rate, weakness, diarrhea, liver failure and the worst is death. It depends on the amount that the dogs consume the poisonous plants.

Also the plants that they try to eat leads to the fatal level your dogs will experience. Always watch your dogs out and never let them try the new or suspicious plants when you are walking around with them.

What in my yard is toxic to dogs?

Check the vegetation around: many popular veggies like onions, garlic, tomato and chives are dangerous for dogs. Similar applies to certain plants, such as ivy plants, milkweed, mistletoe and many more. You can set the fence around the yard to prevent your dogs from coming or try to visit the plants and eat them.