Comments on: Safe & Toxic Plants For Australian Dogs

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 21:26:32 +0000

In reply to Malcolm Taylor. Hi Mal. The answer to this and all similar questions is “we don’t know”. Almost all plants are toxic if enough is eaten. In the majority of cases, the toxic principle is never consumed in sufficient quantities to cause harm.

By: Malcolm Taylor

Malcolm Taylor — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 21:23:35 +0000

Is a Breynia Ironstone berry likely to be toxic to our cavalier?
It is a small bush in a pot.
Mal
Hervey Bay Qld

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 26 Nov 2023 22:24:10 +0000

In reply to Gabby. Hi, Gabby. The wild portulaca (pig face) is often eaten by people, so it would make the group unlikely to be toxic. However, as always, there are no data on dogs.

By: Gabby

Gabby — Sun, 26 Nov 2023 21:53:41 +0000

Hello, thanks for the information. I’m wondering if you could tell me if Portulaca’s are poisonous. I’ve got some in my garden and am wondering if they should be removed.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 02:16:54 +0000

Hi Andrew, we went through our garden after buying a house in rural Victoria as two of our dogs kept getting very sick, we looked up all the plants and pulled out so many and have not had a problem in the last six months, I still can’t have pet friendly plants in the house as one of them likes to eat all the leaves and it leaves the plant looking very sad but I believe if people really do their homework which can take time and visits to the nursery to identify the plant when you get stuck, they too can have a nice looking pet friendly garden and not need to worry if they do eat them occasionally or have a good munch

By: Lee

Lee — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 11:57:22 +0000

Very helpful article. Thanks you!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 12:50:16 +0000

Hi Kate. The important distinction must be made between toxic plants and plants that cause allergy. The former is almost a straight connection, but the latter is extremely random and very difficult, if not impossible to pinpoint. I have virtually never seen any dog owner conclusively identify and eliminate a plant as responsible for an allergy. This is even after extensive intradermal or IgE testing. The closest I have seen is a general understanding that access to grassed areas may make the allergy worse or allergies that disappear after house moves for example. Read my page on the common allergens of dogs for more information. Visit this page for the treatment of skin allergies in dogs.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 04:00:03 +0000

In reply to Jerrym. Hi Jerrym. Just as you will see in the comments for many other Australian plants, true toxicity is unknown but long experience without any recognised poisonings leads us to guess that Banksia is low in toxicity.

By: Jerrym

Jerrym — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 22:41:44 +0000

Hi,
My puppy really wants to chew on Banksia pods. I can’t find any information on Google on it’s whether or not these are toxic for pets. My assumption is they are not but I don’t want to bet on an assumption. Any information would be greatly appreciated!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 02:42:35 +0000

In reply to Simone. Hi Simone. To these and similar questions, the answer is we just don’t know.