Tiny Toxins

🌿 Tiny Toxins: Paws Off Plants 🐾

(A little series combining my love of plants and pets 🌿🐶)

Today’s tiny check: Rhododendron — including azaleas.

Those spectacular clusters of colourful flowers can brighten up a garden beautifully.

But every part of the plant contains toxins called grayanotoxins, including the leaves, flowers and stems.

If eaten, rhododendron may cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, wobbliness, depression or changes affecting the heart and circulation. Even a few leaves may cause serious problems.

Before anyone panics — most dogs will happily share a garden with a rhododendron and never attempt to eat it.

But puppies, adolescent dogs, enrichment seekers and dogs who enjoy pulling plants apart may need thoughtful management around it.

🐾 One small thing to do today:

✔ Check whether your garden contains a rhododendron or azalea.

✔ Prevent chewing and clear away fallen flowers, leaves and prunings.

✔ Consider using a barrier if your dog repeatedly investigates the plant.

If you think your dog has eaten any part of a rhododendron, contact a vet promptly. Don’t wait to see whether symptoms develop.

Awareness, not alarm 🐾🩵

#dogs #dogsafety #tinytoxins #plants #dogtraining