Are Hostas Poisonous To Dogs? What To Do If Your Dog Eats The Hosta Plant?

Hosta plants are a firm favorite of gardeners everywhere. They’re perfect for a low maintenance garden. Dogs can come into contact many times a day. But are hostas poisonous to dogs?

In this article we’re going to cover what to do if your dog eats any part of the hosta plant if he does, is it going to poison him and how toxic is it to dogs.

Are hostas poisonous to dogs? Yes, they are. But are not usually life-threatening. If your dog has a hosta leaf for breakfast, he will not feel well and will probably have diarrhea or be sick, he might even feel a little depressed. But he will recover. The same applies to any part of the plant he might attempt to eat.

Why Are Hostas Poisonous To Dogs?

Hostas prefer a nice shady area in the garden in which to grow. Just the right area your dog will look for when it’s a blazing hot summer’s day. As he lays there cooling in the shade, he’s feeling a little bored and fancies a nibble, as we all do, and there over his head is quite a large easy to reach snack. He doesn’t even need to move, just to stretch his neck a little and yes, gotcha, the hosta leaf.

As they have become more popular in our gardens, so more care needs taking to prevent dogs inadvertently eating this poisonous plant.

Hostas contain saponins and derive their name from the soapwort plant. Which was the original source for soap. Many plants contain them in differing concentrations. How badly they can affect a dog will depend on the saponins, the size of the dog, and how much he eats.

They can foam like soap or detergents, hence their value as one of the original properties in soap. When a dog eats the plant the sugar-bonded molecules that comprise the saponins separate and this allows the toxic effect to occur. Saponins are not all as bad as each other, the effect from some are very mild, while others can generate high levels of toxicity.

Are Hosta Plants Fatal For A Dog?

The general opinion on this is they will make a dog vomit and feel unwell, perhaps even give the dog diarrhea, but that’s usually all that happens.

But as with all these things, there’s no guarantee a dog won’t have a serious reaction to eating a part of the hosta plant.

So if you know for certain he’s eaten some, then it’s best to at least contact your vet and ask his advice. It’s always best to be on the safe side and get an expert’s opinion on poisoning incidents.

What To Do If Your Dog Eats The Hosta Plant?

First, speak to your vet if you can, as we mentioned earlier. If your dog has not vomited since he ate the plant, your vet will probably force your dog to vomit. He will more than likely administer Hydrogen peroxide 3-percent solution to do this.

If you cannot get to the vet’s office or you cannot get in touch, you can home administer hydrogen peroxide yourself. It’s difficult to administer the correct amount and not overdo it. So if you’re not experienced administering hydrogen peroxide, then take your dog to an emergency hospital close to where you live.

In any case, it’s more sensible to get a vet’s advice before you proceed, even if you have experience. You can always ring any vet near you if your own is not available.

There might be a situation where the vet’s advice is to give your dog IV fluids to prevent dehydration. This will help rebalance your dog’s system after a bout of severe vomiting. But this will require a visit to a vet or the emergency hospital.

Hydrogen peroxide is an irritant in your dog’s intestines and will take about 15 minutes for it to work. Your dog will more than likely vomit for 45 minutes to 1 hour, so after you give it to him, get to an area where it’s easier to clean up.

However, never induce vomiting in your dog if you see any of these signs:

It’s super important if your dog is showing any of those symptoms you take him to a pet emergency hospital immediately and don’t induce vomiting.

6 Plants That Are Also Surprisingly Poisonous To Dogs

Aloe Vera: Also contains saponins and is poisonous. Similar symptoms to the hosta plant, but more severe, and you might see seizures.

Oleander: No part of the plant should be eaten by dogs. It’s a very toxic plant. Signs that a dog has eaten this plant include vomiting, bloody diarrhea, uncoordinated movements, tremors, and heart abnormalities.

Tulip: The bulb is the most toxic, but don’t allow your dog to eat any of this plant. Signs to look for are drooling, mouth irritation and vomiting.

Daffodil: once again, it’s the bulb that’s the most toxic. But don’t let your dog eat any of these plants. If he eats the plant look for signs such as diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pains, his blood pressure will drop and heart problems.

Azalea: is another plant that will give serious side-effects if eaten by a dog. This can comprise diarrhea, vomiting and sometimes, more severe signs include low blood pressure, coma, and in very severe reactions death can occur.

Sago Palm: this plant is severely toxic to dogs. If a dog eats this plant, you may see any of these signs, bloody vomiting, diarrhea, liver failure, bleeding disorders, and possible death.

Summary – Are Hostas Poisonous To Dogs?

If you have Hosta plants in your garden or around the house, take care your dog doesn’t eat them. When they flower, they might look even more attractive to your dog.

They are poisonous and while most times the reaction will induce vomiting and diarrhea only, that may not always be the case. It’s possible some dogs can see a more acute reaction.

We only offer the information in this article as general advice. No information in this article should replace the treatment or advice given to you by your vet.

If you have any doubts regarding the health of your pet, please seek qualified and professional medical attention as soon as possible.