These common flowering shrubs are poisonous plants for dogs and produce serious gastrointestinal issues. They can additionally cause weakness, discoordination, and weak heart rate. Potentially fatal.
The azalea’s flowers are vibrant, large, and stunning, with a color scheme that appears to have been plucked directly from a rainbow. And your dog thinks so too. He probably consumes both the flowers and leaves, destroying the beauty of your lovely plant in the process. Even worse, azalea leaves are poisonous to canines. There are a few tactics you can use to curb your dog’s behavior, from simple relocation to a little hot sauce.
Relocate potted azaleas. You’re in luck if you keep your vibrant, acid-loving plants in pots. If you can just move the plants, it will be much easier to put an end to your dog’s plans to eat the azaleas. Any location near a window that receives indirect sunlight will work best because azaleas prefer filtered sunlight. If you have azaleas that are low to the ground, raise them up high by placing them on a shelf, a stand, or a hook. Your dog is likely to forget the plant ever existed if he has trouble seeing and smelling it.
Booby trap the area. Moving your azaleas is probably not a good idea if they are healthy and active outside. But that doesn’t mean they have to put up with your dog’s intrigue. Place wooden stakes around the azaleas and extend one line of fishing line across them, about the height of your dog’s head. You can create a cheap tripwire that will scare your dog away if he decides to cross the line by tying aluminum cans to the line. If you’d like, you can run several rows of fishing line across the stakes, but most of the time one line is sufficient to keep trustworthy dogs trustworthy.
Turn the tasty azaleas into nasty azaleas. Your dog probably believes that grass, hoyas, and any other plants you take care of go well with azaleas. Hot sauce, cayenne pepper, and bitter spray, however, are not your dog’s favorite side dishes. Sprinkle a small amount of the deterrent — undiluted — onto the leaves of potted azaleas. Dont worry, none of these deterrents will harm your plants. For outside azaleas, avoid this method. The deterrent will be washed away too frequently to work.
Relocate the tie-out if applicable. Pull the tie-out stake from its current location and move it to another location so that your dog won’t be able to jump into your azaleas if you keep your little mischief maker on a tie-out when he goes on his outdoor adventures.
Fill your yard with canine toys. Your dog will completely forget about your azaleas with treat dispensers, tennis balls, squeakers, and hardy bones. To prevent him from becoming bored, give him a wide selection of toys to choose from and occasionally replace them with new ones.
Muzzle him. It’s time for an unattractive basket muzzle if you can’t get your plant-eating dog to stop eating your azaleas. The muzzle may be unsightly, but it will prevent your dog from eating plants while still allowing him to move around normally. Always use a basket muzzle, never a nylon one. Nylon muzzles can prevent your dog from panting and drinking water, but basket muzzles allow this.
Chris Miksen, a Pittsburgh resident, has been penning educational articles for online publications since 2007 on a variety of subjects. He currently owns and operates a vending business. Throughout his writing career, Miksen has produced a wide range of technical and business articles. He studied journalism at the Community College of Allegheny County.
Treatment of Azalea Poisoning in Dogs
Your dog will typically be admitted to the veterinary hospital for treatment right away, but preliminary treatment will depend on how long it has been since the flower was ingested and whether any symptoms have started. The most likely course of action is to induce vomiting if the azalea plant was recently consumed and there are no symptoms present at this time in order to stop the grayanotoxin from entering the bloodstream.
Additionally, the patient will be given activated charcoal in an effort to absorb as much of the poison as possible. In order to remove as much toxin from the patient’s stomach as possible if it has been a longer period of time, the veterinarian may decide to perform a gastric lavage while the patient is under general anesthesia. IV fluids to treat dehydration as well as mixtures of electrolytes and sugars to correct any imbalances are likely to be part of the supportive treatment. If the dog’s heart rate falls below 40–50 beats per minute, respiratory support and atropine may be necessary.
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What To Do If Your Pet Eats Azaleas
If any part of an azalea plant was consumed by your pet, call your veterinarian right away. Given that it could be fatal, you don’t want to wait around to see how much your pet consumed.
Are Azaleas Poisonous to Dogs Or Cats?
Azaleas contain the neurotoxin grayanotoxin, which can be toxic to both dogs and cats. Azalea pollen, petals, and leaves all contain the poison. This toxin affects sodium channels in the heart and skeletal muscles. Activities involving the skeleton, the nervous system, and the heart’s ability to pump blood can all be interfered with. Seizures, low blood pressure, and abnormal heart rhythms are some additional symptoms.
The plant’s poison can cause clinical symptoms even in small doses. For example, 0. It only takes 2% of your pet’s body weight for them to become ill.
Even though azaleas are only said to be moderately toxic to cats, it’s still a good idea to keep them out of them. But it is uncommon for any part of a plant to cause significant clinical toxicosis.
FAQ
What happens if a dog eats an azalea plant?
Although less likely than livestock to eat them, azaleas are toxic to dogs and cats. Excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, difficulty walking, appearing lethargic, tremors or seizures, loss of appetite, and coma are visible indicators that an animal has consumed some part of an azalea plant.
How much azalea is poisonous to dogs?
Symptoms of Azalea Poisoning in Dogs This plant has a toxic dose of about 0. 2% of the animal’s weight. This means that a 60-pound dog could develop serious clinical signs after consuming as little as two ounces of plant material.
What part of the azalea is toxic to dogs?
Because of the presence of grayanotoxins in these plants, sodium channels in the skeletal and cardiac muscles are disrupted. As little as ingesting 0 of the plant’s parts is considered poisonous. 2% of an animal’s body weight can result in poisoning.
What is the most poisonous plant for dogs?
- Castor bean or castor oil plant (Ricinus communis)
- Cyclamen (Cylamen spp.)
- Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia)
- Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
- English Ivy, both leaves and berries (Hedera helix)
- Mistletoe (Viscum album)