How many things look good enough to eat but are actually toxic to our pets? Recently in New Zealand, in separate incidents, three dogs have died from eating toxic karaka tree berries. "We don't know why dogs like the berries but dogs are scavengers and will eat anything," says Veterinary Specialist Group's Dr Mark Robson. While not all poisonous plants are lethal and effects can range in severity, it pays to know what good-looking, naturally occurring but ultimately poisonous things you should keep your dog away from:
Apricots
It isn't the flesh of apricots that's poisonous to dogs, but rather the pit in the middle that contains cyanide. The leaves and stems do too. Cyanide poisoning in dogs can cause difficulty breathing and inadequate oxygen levels. Dilated pupils is another tell-tale sign your dog has been getting into this seemingly innocuous, but actually poisonous, fruit.
Daffodils
The bulbs of daffodils can cause harm to our furry friends. Daffodils contain lycorine, an alkaloid that can easily trigger vomiting. Ingestion of daffodil bulbs by dogs can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and - in more sensitive dogs - cardiac arrhythmia or trouble breathing.
