Hostas are a popular landscaping plant, known for their beautiful foliage and ability to thrive in shade. However, hostas contain saponins, compounds that are toxic to dogs if ingested. As a dog owner, it’s important to understand the risks of hostas and how to keep your pet safe.
How Hostas Can Be Toxic
All parts of the hosta plant, including the leaves, stems, flowers and roots, contain saponins Saponins cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy in dogs. Ingesting even small amounts can cause excessive drooling, nausea and stomach pain
Eating larger quantities of hosta plants can cause more severe reactions including
- Trembling and twitching
- Dilated pupils
- Respiratory distress
- Kidney problems
The toxins are also irritating to the skin and mouth. Dogs that chew on hostas may experience oral inflammation and irritation.
Symptoms of Hosta Poisoning
Watch for these signs that your dog may have ingested parts of a hosta plant:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Drooling
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Stomach pain
- Irritation around mouth
Symptoms typically begin within a few hours of ingestion. Prompt veterinary treatment is essential for the best outcome.
Preventing Hosta Poisoning
The best way to protect your pup is to avoid planting hostas in your yard. However, if you already have them in your landscaping, take these steps to keep your dog safe:
- Plant hostas out of your dog’s reach, such as in raised beds.
- Put up fencing around hosta beds.
- Remove and discard any uprooted hosta plants.
- Keep dogs away from hostas when working in the yard.
- Opt for pet-safe plants if adding new foliage.
Supervise dogs when they are outside to prevent snacking on plants. Also be cautious with cut hosta flowers in bouquets kept inside.
Treating Hosta Poisoning
If your dog eats a hosta plant, contact your vet right away. Treatment typically includes:
- Inducing vomiting to remove plant from stomach
- Activated charcoal to absorb toxins
- Intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration
- Medications to control vomiting and diarrhea
- Monitoring kidney function
With prompt veterinary treatment, most dogs recover well. However, kidney damage is possible if large amounts were ingested.
By understanding the risks of hostas, you can take steps to protect your four-legged friend. Avoid planting them in your yard or garden if you have a dog. Supervise time outdoors and contact your vet immediately if ingestion occurs. With vigilance, you can help prevent potentially serious hosta poisoning.
What To Do If Your Dog Eats Toxic Plants
While some plants can just give your pup diarrhea, there are others that are extremely poisonous and can cause serious problems, like liver damage. On top of that, many of the more dangerous poisonous plants for dogs are also very common plants to have in your home, like sago palm plants.
If you think your pet has eaten a poisonous plant, head to the animal ER instead of trying to treat your pet at home.
If you aren’t sure what your pet ate, call the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661). They’re available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They can tell you how toxic the plant is and if you need to seek veterinary care.
The best thing to do as far as prevention goes is to not have these plants at all. But sometimes, that’s just not possible—say, you bought a house with a yard full of azaleas. In that case, you can put a barrier up or use a plant stand to prevent your pooch from getting to these plants.
When adding greenery to your home, be sure to get plants that are pet-safe, like spider plants, violets, or orchids, suggests Dr. Hohenhaus.
Are Hostas Poisonous To Dogs?
FAQ
What happens if a dog eats hostas?
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression.
How do I stop my dog from eating hostas?
For example, dogs and cats don’t like the smell of citrus, so plant lemongrass around the Hosta. Or, plant prickly plants like aloe, roses or holly, to make the area less inviting. You also can put orange and lemon peels around the plant to see if it discourages your dog from approaching.
Are hostas dog friendly?
Hosta plant parts are considered toxic to dogs, cats, and horses because they contain saponins, which are soap like irritants. They are glycosides with a distinctive foaming characteristic. Signs of toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, and depression/lethargy.
What plant is poisonous to dogs?
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) Mistletoe (viscum Album) Onion and garlic plants (Allium species) Oak (Quercus species) – look out for acorns in autumn that can cause problems such as gut blockages.
What happens if a dog eats Hosta?
Saponins are toxic when consumed and may inflict several problems for a dog including stomach upsets and others. If a dog eats any part of the Hosta plant, the level of intended symptoms will be decided based on several factors such as the amount of Hosta taken and the size of the dog. Here are some common symptoms to watch for: 1. Vomiting:
Is Hosta plataginea toxic to dogs?
Scientific Name: Hosta plataginea Family: Liliaceae Toxicity: Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses Toxic Principles: Saponins Clinical Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression. If you suspect your pet may have ingested a potentially toxic substance, call the APCC at (888) 426-4435 or contact your local veterinarian as soon as possible.
Can dogs eat Hosta flowers?
Dogs cannot eat Hosta plants as they are very toxic to canines. The entire plant, including the Hosta flowers, leaves, stems, and bulbs will make your dog sick and can be fatal in rare cases. Mostly your dog will vomit and have diarrhea. Despite how common Hosta flowers are, that doesn’t mean they are safe for your dog.
Are hostas poisonous to dogs?
Hostas are toxic to dogs due to the saponins that are present within the plant. Saponins are known to cause gastric irritation in our furry friends, and even skin irritation if the dog rubs against the plant frequently. While most plants harbor most of their danger within the bulb, hostas contain saponins in every portion of the plant.
Are Hosta lilies bad for dogs?
Hostas, or plantain lilies, are a low-maintenance plant that are part of the Agavaceae family. With being low to the ground and extremely tolerant to shade, this plant is a favorite in gardens around the world. There are also over 40 species of hostas out there, making it even more likely for your dog to come in contact with them at some point.
How do you treat Hosta toxicity in dogs?
The management of Hosta toxicity in dogs is mainly supportive care intended at reducing the severity of the signs and preventing additional amounts of the toxic components from being ingested. Depending on the severity of the poisoning, your veterinarian may recommend the following: 1. Inducing Vomiting: