Vegetable Gardening for Beginners

Here are 10 common plants, found in suburban vegetable gardens that have the potential to harm your canine friend.

This is to be used as a guide only. If in doubt – Contact your vet immediately!

COMMON NAME:	BOTANICAL NAME:	PARTS OF THE PLANT POISONOUS:	HOW IT CAUSES HARM:	WHAT IT DOES:	WHAT TO DO:
Arnica Low Toxicity	Arnica Montana	Rhizomes and Flowers	Direct contact with skin & consumption	Vomiting, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, redness of skin, rash and drowsiness	Rinse any red areas with cold water for a minimum of 10 mins. If consumed-remove any plant material from the mouth & rinse. If symptoms persist or get worse, contact vet.
Amaranth High Toxicity	Amaranthus sp.	Leaves, stems and roots	Consumption	Difficulty breathing, trembling, weakness, paralysis, convulsions, lack of coordination, kidney failure, and abortive.	Remove any leaves from mouth, rinse with water. Contact vet immediately.
Asparagus Moderate Toxicity	Asparagus officinalis.	Entire plant	Direct Contact with skin & Consumption	Allergic dermatitis, berry ingestion can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea. Tremors, kidney problems.	Rinse any red areas with water for a minimum of 10 mins. If consumed, remove any plant material from the mouth and rinse. If symptoms persist or get worse, contact your vet.
Beetroot Low Toxicity: mainly only effects livestock not domestic animals.	Beta sp.	Leaves and roots	Consumption	Abdominal pain, laboured breathing, raised heart rate, muscle twitching.	Remove any plant material from the mouth and rinse. If symptoms persist or get worse, contact your vet.
Delphinium High Toxicity	Delphinium sp.	Entire plant	Consumption & direct contact	Dermatitis, digestive upset, salivate excessively, burning of lips, numbness fo throat, intense vomiting, bloating, loss of appetite, breathing difficulties, spasms, lack of coordination, paralysis.	Rinse any red areas with water for a minimum of 10 mins. If consumed, remove any plant material from the mouth and rinse. If symptoms persist or get worse, contact your vet.
Foxglove High Toxicity	Digitalis purpurea	Entire plant	Consumption & direct contact	Nausea, Heart Failure, Tremors, seizures, loss of balance, weakness.	Rinse any red areas with water for a minimum of 10 mins. If consumed, remove any plant material from the mouth and rinse. Contact vet immediately.
Cape Gooseberry High Toxicity	Phylsalis sp.	Entire plant, especially the immature growth & unripe fruit	Consumption & direct contact	Dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhoea, collapse, seizures, lowered temperature.	Rinse any red areas with water for a minimum of 10 mins. If consumed, remove any plant material from the mouth and rinse. Contact vet immediately.
Elderberry Moderate Toxicity	Sambucus sp.	Entire plant	Consumption	Diarrhoea, vomiting, increased respitory rate, panting, extreme difficulty breathing, and excitability.	If consumed-remove any plant material from the mouth and rinse. Contact vet immediately.
Tansy High Toxicity	Senecio sp.	Entire plant	Consumption & direct contact	Dermatitis, wandering aimlessly, head pressing, disorientation, liver damage, kidney damage.	If consumed, contact the vet immediately. Remove any plant material from the mouth and rinse. Rinse any red areas with cold water for a minimum of 10 mins.
Broad bean High Toxicity: mainly only effects livestock not domestic animals.	Vicia sp.	Seeds and leaves	Consumption & direct contact	Welts on skin, hair loss, nausea, diarrhoea, convulsions, laboured breathing, swollen nymph nodes.	Rinse any red areas with water for a minimum of 10 mins. If consumed, remove any plant material from the mouth and rinse. Contact vet immediately.