This is a partial list of poisonous indoor and outdoor plants that may be lurking in your home or yard and harmful to your pooch. As pretty as they may be, you should be on the alert.... One of the first things a dog owner should look at is just how high of a risk these plants are to your dog. Consider your dog's age. Is he a puppy or full grown adult? Many, if not most, puppies make their way through the world by exploring and investigating everything orally. In other words, they love to chew, chew, chew! Most puppies grow out of this stage as they mature and stop teething. When they are outside, watch carefully to see if they are drawn to sticks, flowers, or tree leaves. Another risk factor is your dog's penchant for plant chewing. Some dogs are just naturally drawn to plant leaves and flowers, regardless of their age, while others virtually ignore them. You know your dog best - you are the best judge of potential chewing problems. Many toxic plants rarely pose a threat because the majority of dogs just don't chew on them. They don't typically find these plants tempting or agreeable, and so avoid eating them, even if they are commonly found in their environment. So the age and tendencies of your dog play a great role in their safety. Keep in mind also that dogs will have varying reactions to different plants, trees, and shrubs. Some will cause only a mild rash or itchiness, while contact with others result in more severe irritations such as facial and throat pain and swelling. This can turn fatal if the airway becomes blocked. Still other plants (though not as common) are extremely toxic and can quickly cause death from even the smallest exposure to them. Toxic effects of plants, however, vary greatly between species and can change according to the status of a plant's health. Several important factors should be considered here. These include the time of year it is, the stage of a plant's growth, the conditions of growth (is the plant healthy and thriving, barely alive, dormant?), humidity, the age of a plant, and many other issues. Time of year is very significant; it can actually make all the difference in the toxicity of a plant. The level and concentration of poisons in a plant can easily change not only from year to year, but throughout the growing season. Environmental factors play a vital role throughout the year. Are you experiencing a drought? Has there been excessive moisture? There are just so many things to think about! Unfortunately if your dog has been exposed to and poisoned by a plant, diagnosis can be difficult to pinpoint. The best way to verify diagnosis of toxic plant ingestion is often to find a specific plant physically present in the area your dog was. You need to properly identify the plant, then prove that the dog ingested it. Look for leaves or twigs that have been chewed on or near the plant itself, or collect stool or vomit samples and look for fragments there. Always bring anything you find with you to the veterinarian. There are not many antibiotics available to cure plant poisoning. Usually the best thing to do is help quicken the elimination of the plant from the gastrointestinal tract. Symptomatic and supportive care follow once the poison leaves the dog's system. This should all be done under a veterinarian's care. If you've discovered the source of the poison, remove all dangerous plants from your property to prevent recurrence. The above is an excerpt from: Just HOW Poisonous are Those Plants? by Carolyn Artale Additional information at The Poop http://www.thepoop.com
	POISONOUS HOUSEPLANTS
	Common Name	Botanical Name	Poisonous Part
	Bird of Paradise	Strelizia regirae	Fruit, seeds
	Boston Ivy	Parthenocissus quinquefolia	All parts
	Caladium	Caladium	All parts
	Creeping Charlie	Glecoma hederacea	All parts
	Dumbcane	Dieffenbachia	All parts
	Emerald Duke	Philodendron hastatum	All parts
	Glacier Ivy	Hedera glacier	Leaves, berries
	Heartleaf	Philadendron cordatum	All parts
	English Ivy	Hedera helix	Leaves, berries
	Marble Queen	Scindapsus aureus	All parts
	Majesty	Philodendron hastatum	All parts
	Nephthytis, Arrowhead Vine	Synogonium podophyllum albolineatum	All parts
	Parlor Ivy	Philodendron cordatum	All parts
	Pothos	Scindapsus aureus	All parts
	Red Princess	Philodendron hastatum	All parts
	Saddleleaf	Philodendron selloum	All parts
	Split leaf Philodendron	Monstera deliciosa	All parts
	Umbrella Plant	Cyperus alternifolius	All parts
	POISONOUS OUTDOOR PLANTS
	Common Name	Botanical Name	Poisonous Part
	Apricot	Prunus ameniaca	Stem, bark, seed pits
	Azalea	Rhododendron occidentale	All parts
	Baneberry	Actaea Spicata	Berries, roots, foliage
	Buchberry	Lantana	All parts
	Castor Bean	Ricinus communis	Seeds, if chewed
	Choke Cherry	Prunus virginica	Leaves, seed pits, stems, bark
	Daffodil	Narcissus	Bulbs
	Daphne	Daphne mezereum	Berries, bark, leaves
	Foxglove	Digitalis purpura	Leaves, seeds, flowers
	Hemlock	Conium maculatum	All parts, root and root stalk
	Hens-and-Chicks	Lantana	All parts
	Hyacinth	Hyacinthus orientalis	Bulbs, leaves, flowers
	Hydrangea	Hydrangea macrophylla	Leaves, buds
	Jerusalem Cherry	Solanim pseudocapscium	All parts, unripe fruit
	Jimson Weed	Datura stramonium	All parts
	Jonquil	Narcissus	Bulbs
	Lily-of-the-Valley	Convallaria majalis	All parts
	Mandrake	Podophyllum peltatum	Roots, foliage, unripe fruit
	Mistletoe	Phoradendron Flavescens	Berries
	Morning Glory	Ipomoea violaces	Seeds
	Nightshade	Atropa belladonna	All parts
	Oleander	Norium Oleander	All parts, including dried leaves
	Poinsettia	Euphorbia pulcherrima	Leaves, flowers
	Pokeweed, Inkberry	Phytolacca americana	All parts
	Red Sage	Lantana camara	Green berries
	Rhododendron	Rhododendron	All parts
	Rhubarb	Rheum raponticum	Leaves
	Sweet Pea	Lathyrus odoratus	Seeds, pods
	Tulip	Tulipa	Bulbs
	Wisteria	Wisteria	Seeds, pods
	Yew	Taxus	Needles, bark, seeds