Ahhh…Spring is in the air… and lots of new things are blooming on the ground.  Some of those plants and flowers that make spring so beautiful can be a real danger to your animals.  Now is a good time to check your yard for new dangers that may have bloomed over the lat few weeks.  Also, be on the lookout when taking your dog to parks or other areas where you are unfamiliar with the area and your dog has freedom to roam.

Here are the 10 most common plants and flowers that are poisonous to dogs:

1. Grapes: Even a small serving of grapes/raisins can cause vomiting and diarrhea, while larger amounts can lead to kidney failure.
2. Apricot: The seeds, leaves, and stems of the apricot tree contain cyanide, a deadly poison.
3. Mushrooms: Watch out for wild mushrooms, dogs are not capable of discerning the difference between the edible and toxic mushrooms.
4. Lilies: Lilies are a serious danger to cats and some varieties are highly toxic to dogs as well.
5. Azalea: Ingestion of just a few leaves can cause serious issues like digestive upset, drooling, loss of appetite, weakness and leg paralysis. In some cases, eating azalea can lead to coma or death.
6. Daffodils: Daffodils contain poisonous alkaloids that can cause vomiting, excessive salivation, diarrhea, convulsions, tremors and heart problems.
7. Sago Palm: We saw many cases of dogs eating pods from this household plant.   The whole plant and the seeds in particular contain a potent toxin called cycasin that can be fatal, even if the dog only eats a single seed.
8. Lantana: A common native xeroscape plant.  Lantana leaves and berries are highly toxic.
9. Poinsettia: A holiday favorite, causes skin, mouth, and stomach irritation in dogs.
10. Bird of Paradise: A common decorative household plant.  The fruit and seeds of this plant are toxic to dogs.

For a comprehensive list of plants that are toxic to dogs, visit the ASPCA’s interactive plant guide.

If your pet has ingested something look for these symptoms and contact your Veterinarian immediately: Lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, yellowing of the skin or eyes, and/or foaming at the mouth.