A garden is a wonderful and beautiful thing. Whether you have plants inside or outdoors, they add color and provide oxygen. Yet, plants have a darker side. If you have dogs, you must be aware that many are toxic. The ingestion of certain leaves, flowers, stems or roots can make your dog slightly sick or kill him or her. Normally, most dogs do not eat plants. They may do so when bored, stressed or anxious, but, except for grass, not as part of their regular diet. If your dog is the exception to the rule or you have an omnivorous hound, it is a good idea to know what plants are or are not dangerous to your beloved, if somewhat diet challenged canine. If your dog falls into the “normal” category, it is useful to know what plants fall into the “green toxin” category in case something happens.

Common Toxic Plants
The list following below is by no means extensive. It contains some of the plants found in gardens and homes in North America and elsewhere.

* Amaryllis
* Bean tree
* Bird of Paradise
* Black walnut
* Bleeding Heart
* Blue cohosh
* Buttercup
* California fern
* Calla lily
* Casto bean
* Choke cherry
* Christmas cactus
* Cowslip
* Crown of thorns
* Daffodil
* Day lily
* Diffenbachia
* Easter lily
* English ivy
* Holly
* Hyacinth
* Lamb’s quarters
* Lily of the valley
* Love apple
* Mistletoe
* Morning glory
* Mother in law plant
* Philodendron
* Poinsettia
* Skunk cabbage
* Spurge
* Tobacco

* Effects
The effects from ingesting toxic plants can vary. It depends upon the level of toxins present in the plant. Other factors regulating the extent of the damage to the canine include the size of the dog as well as the part of the plant eaten and the amount ingested. Some plants, such as the lily of the valley are extremely poisonous. Your dog can be in mortal danger from drinking water in which this plant has been placed. Amaryllis and mistletoe, as well as most members of the lily family are also extremely dangerous. If your canine eats even a small amount, the result can be severe organ damage and even death. Some plants are less toxic to your dog. The eating of Christmas cactus, poinsettia and philodendron plants results in less severe consequences. The result may be stomach irritation resulting in vomiting.

Solutions
The solutions to preventing your pet from eating any of these potentially deadly plants are varied. If you have any in your garden or home, you can remove them, dispose of them permanently or give them away to petless individuals. In your home, you can also place them off the ground, sensibly out of reach of any hungry canine. If you have toxic plants growing in your garden, you might want to consider building a fence or other barrier to keeping Fido from sampling his or her way into the nearest emergency veterinarian clinic.

Conclusion:
Plants have their purpose in and outside the home. Before you decide to purchase any item with blooms and greenery, you might want to check first to see if it may be harmful to your dog or any other living thing. If this is the case, either forgo purchasing or make arrangements so your canine does not become another statistic. While poisoning from other household items is more common, do not overlook the possibility. This is particularly true if your dog knows no limits where his or her stomach is concerned.

Article provided by Harry Keith, look for organic dog food delivery for Blue Buffalo pet food online!