Oregon is unusually lush, especially in the Coast Range and the Willamette Valley. The state ranks third nationally for overall nursery production, although nearly three-quarters of all plants grown here are sold in other states. With an abundance of plants about to grow new leaves and unveil their blooms, it’s a good idea to acquaint yourself with common toxic plants in and around your home – especially for your pets.  

The Eastgate Veterinary Clinic in Corvallis recently cared for a golden retriever after he drank from a pool of water at Willamette Park and experienced symptoms of poisoning. The culprit? Cyanobacteria toxicosis – also known as Blue-Green Algae Toxicosis.  

“Though not truly algae, it’s similar in appearance and can grow in similar environments of fresh, salt, or brackish water,” says Dr. Josiah Moses, Medical Director at the clinic.   

Dogs generally ingest it while swimming. It can cause neurologic symptoms – like seizures – within an hour.  

Moses explains that the timing of a bloom’s appearance affects how toxic it is, which makes it difficult to anticipate how sick a dog will be immediately after ingesting contaminated water. Inducing vomiting is usually the safest immediate treatment for a dog that has ingested algal water because the symptoms advance so quickly that “it may be too late by the time we figure out the details.”   

“Bottom line,” he said, “call your veterinarian to discuss treatments if you suspect your pet ingested water during an algae bloom.”  

Kate Callaway, clinic practice manager, notes that it is challenging to make a comprehensive list of toxic plants because of the many degrees of toxicity and differences in information. “And that’s if you can ID the plants correctly, since they look different during different times of the year,” she says.  

So here is a list of plants common to Corvallis and its surrounding areas, with an attempt to be as comprehensive as possible. However, please speak with your vet for more complete information. And remember, some plants that are safe for one dog may be dangerous to others with certain health conditions.   

We have excluded certain well-known toxic plants, like poison ivy, poison hemlock, stinging nettle, deadly nightshade, and death cap mushrooms.   

Dogs – especially puppies – are known to eat things they shouldn’t. Something called a “linear foreign body” poses a unique risk. “Linear” refers to its shape, as in long and evenly sized, like a piece of string. If the linear object catches anywhere in the animal’s body, the intestines will seize up around it as they attempt to move the object through the tract. This motion is called “plication.” Untreated, plicated intestines will perforate.   

Certain plants form indigestible fibers, like bamboo and acacia. These fibers can be dangerous if ingested.  

Callaway says: “The biggest offender I generally warn everyone about is lilies. Most of them vary from mildly toxic to deadly for dogs, and all lilies are highly toxic/deadly to cats. We try hard to warn our clients each spring about this, as they are so popular around Easter.”  

Insoluble calcium oxalates in peace lilies and white and black calla lilies may cause severe mouth irritation, excessive drooling, and difficulty swallowing.  

Colchicine-related alkaloids in Superb Lilies and Glory Lilies may cause drooling, bloody vomiting, bloody diarrhea, shock, kidney failure, liver failure, and bone marrow suppression.  

Japanese Pieris, Lily-of-the-Valley Bush, is common to the Pacific Northwest and extremely toxic. While not a true lily, it is colloquially known as the Lily-of-the-Valley bush because of its lily-shaped flowers. Grayanotoxins may cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression, cardiovascular failure, excessive drooling, low blood pressure, and death. It takes only a few leaves to cause serious trouble.  

Autumn “Crocus” or Colchicum autumnale grow happily in lowland meadows, which are common in the Willamette Valley. Though not a true crocus, the autumn “crocus” certainly resembles one in shape and color. Colchicine and other alkaloids in the autumn crocus may cause bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, multi-organ damage, and bone marrow suppression.  

Ragwort has a bitter taste and will not likely tempt most dogs, its toxic effects are significant and can be difficult to recognize, as symptoms of ragwort poisoning may come on very suddenly a few days after ingestion. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in ragwort may cause diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia, ataxia, liver failure, and neurologic problems secondary to liver failure, like head pressing, depression, aimless walking and chewing motions. Symptoms of liver failure include weight loss, weakness, sluggishness, clumsiness, and yellow discoloration.  

Chrysanthemum or Daisies are a common landscape plant and a popular component of bouquets, valued for their many-petalled blooms and variety of colors. A number of compounds in the common mum cause poisoning in dogs, like sesquiterpenes – a defensive terpene for the flower which is also a compound used to make turpentine – and pyrethrins – a naturally occurring pesticide. These compounds may cause vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, clumsiness, and dermatitis.  

Begonias are known for their delicate, bobbing blooms and huge variety of colors and shapes. Soluble calcium oxalates – in highest concentrations in the root system – may cause vomiting and salivation. Very high levels may cause kidney failure, but this is most likely to occur in grazing animals that eat large quantities of the whole plant.  

Irises are well-loved for their bright, contrasting color scheme and draping petals. Pentacyclic terpenes – again those compounds that we use to make turpentine – present in high concentrations in the rhizomes may cause salivation, vomiting, drooling, lethargy, and diarrhea. A rhizome is a part of the root stalk that moves horizontally underground and sends shoots to the surface.  

Fiddle Leaf Fig – also known as Ficus or Rubber Plant –  is an extremely popular house plant, well-known for its dramatic appearance and “instagramability.” Rubber plants in general are well-liked for their shiny leaves and deep colors. Ficin – an enzyme that breaks down proteins – is present in high concentrations in the sap of many ficus trees. It is toxic to dogs and may cause gastrointestinal and dental irritation if ingested.    

Hellebore, known for its deeply-colored, bell shaped leaves, is dangerous to dogs. Cardiac glycosides, saponins, and protoanemonin may cause drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea, colic, and depression.  

Larkspur plants form towering columns of blue, pink, white, and purple trumpet-shaped flowers. Alkaloids in larkspur may cause paralysis, constipation, colic, drooling, tremors, convulsions, stiffness, weakness, inability to walk, cardiac failure, or death from respiratory paralysis. Immature larkspur is more toxic.  

Hyacinth blooms form columns like larkspur, but the blossoms may appear differentiated, with white edging and a backwards curl. Alkaloids present in hyacinth may cause vomiting, diarrhea, or dermatitis. The bulbs are the most poisonous.  

Rhododendron or Azaleas are a syandard of Pacific Northwest landscaping. They’re also highly toxic and may cause vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and cardiac failure.  

Daffodils may cause vomiting, drooling, and diarrhea. Large amounts may cause convulsions, low blood pressure, and cardiac arrhythmia. Bulbs are the most poisonous part.  

Tulips contain the compounds tulipanin A and B may cause vomiting, depression, diarrhea, hypersalivation. Bulbs are the most poisonous part.   

Morning Glory carry alkaloids which may cause vomiting. The seeds in particular may cause hallucinations.  

Cyclamen – After ingestion of large amounts of the tubers, a dog may experience heart arrhythmia, seizures, and death.  

Boxwood – Alkaloids in Boxwood may cause diarrhea and vomiting.   

Holly – Saponins in holly may cause vomiting, diarrhea, and depression.  

Oleander – Cardiac glycosides in every part of the Oleander plant may cause drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea, colic, depression, and death.  

Yew – This conifer that grows throughout the Pacific Northwest may cause tremors, difficulty breathing, vomiting, seizures, and acute heart failure.  

A number of popular fruits and vegetables are perfectly safe for dogs to eat, like apples, carrots, and peas. Others are downright dangerous.  

Grapes – Tartaric acid and potassium bitartrate in grapes may cause vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, and kidney damage. Just one grape could cause major upset. Large amounts may cause kidney failure.  

Raw potato – White potatoes belong to the nightshade family, like tomatoes, eggplants, and bell peppers. And while potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, and bell peppers all contain solanine, raw potatoes have higher concentrations. Cooking potatoes reduces the amount of solanine, making them safe for most dogs to eat in moderation.  

Rhubarb – Soluble calcium oxalates may cause kidney failure, tremors, and drooling. Soluble oxalates are more toxic than insoluble oxalates.

Starfruit – Soluble calcium oxalates may cause kidney failure, tremors and drooling.  

Stone fruit – Apricot, Plum, Peach, Cherry contain cyanogenic glycosides (cyanide) in their pits, stems and leaves. This may cause dilated pupils, red-colored membranes, difficulty breathing, and shock.  

Citrus – The fruit itself is safe, but the essential oil, skins, and certain parts of the plant are toxic to dogs. Exposure may cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and dermatitis.  

Chives, Garlic, Onion, and Leeks –  These members of the alliums family contain N-propyl disulfide which may cause vomiting, the breakdown of red blood cells, bloody urine, weakness, high heart rate, and rapid breathing.  

Herbs and essential oils – Common kitchen herbs range from dog-safe – like rosemary – to mildly toxic – like lavender – to highly dangerous – like chamomile and cannabis. Essential oils that are extremely toxic to dogs include – but are not limited to – pine, peppermint, tea tree, wintergreen, cinnamon, citrus, geranium, and ylan ylang. These oils are potentially toxic whether concentrated in a vial or consumed directly from the plant. As a general rule, do not allow your dog to interact with herbs, spices, or essential oils unless explicitly approved by your veterinarian.  

Oregon plant nursery revenue nearly doubled from 2019 to 2021, rising from $1.02 billion to $1.9 billion. This was due in part to a surge in houseplant purchases during the early stages of pandemic isolation. Many popular houseplants pose significant health risks to dogs and should be kept far out of reach or behind a barrier.  

Ivy – Triterpenoid saponins in ivy may cause vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling, and diarrhea. The leaves and stems are more toxic than the berries.  

Aloe – The skin of aloe contains concentrations of saponin and anthraquinone that may cause vomiting, lethargy, and diarrhea.   

Dieffenbachia or Dumb Cane –  Insoluble calcium oxalates and proteolytic enzymes present in this popular houseplant may cause oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.  

Kalanchoe – Bufadienolides in kalanchoe may cause vomiting, diarrhea, and in rare cases, abnormal heart rhythm.  

Pothos and Philodenron  –  Insoluble calcium oxalates in these plants may cause mouth irritation, drooling, and difficulty swallowing.  

Monstera  – Insoluble calcium oxalates in monstera plants may cause mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing, and swelling of the tongue and mouth.  

Snake plant – Saponins in the plant may cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if the plant is ingested in large amounts. It may also cause the tongue and throat to swell.  

When preparing a home for a dog or planning a new landscaping venture, Callaway suggests retaining the services of a dog-friendly landscaping company like Good Dog Landscapes , located on Asbahr Place, or other landscaping services that specialize in plant ID. These services can perform an evaluation of plants on the property, which may be especially useful at times of year when plants have lost their leaves and don’t have blooms yet.  

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