Are Impatiens Poisonous To Dogs?

Dogs are part of the family but are also very curious, especially when they are young and are experimenting with putting everything they come across into their mouths – including your beautiful impatiens.

But instead of feeling angry or disappointed, you probably feel a rush of fear that what they have just eaten could end in disaster.

There are lots of common plants that are poisonous to dogs and sadly, some owners aren’t aware before it’s too late.

This is why it’s important to do a bit of research beforehand so that your dog can live healthily and happily for many years to come.

What Are Impatiens?

Also known as busy lizzies, impatiens are flowering plants that bloom continuously through summer and autumn until the frost starts to affect them.

They are very adaptable and no matter what you decide to grow them in, they will surely thrive and show off bursts of red, pink, purple, and orange which can bring any garden or room to life.

They can grow to reach around 12 inches and do well in the light with a medium amount of shade.

When you are growing impatiens, you must get a variety that is resistant to downy mildew as this disease can burn through them which forced a lot of nurseries to remove impatiens from their stock to prevent the disease from spreading any further.

You can help prevent downy mildew by keeping the leaves dry when you water them and giving them good airflow between plants.

If you do find that your impatiens have gotten some downy mildew, the best way to get rid of it is to cut off the affected leaves before it spreads any further.

Are Impatiens Poisonous To Dogs?

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has stated that impatiens are not poisonous to dogs or any other pets for that matter.

This means that you can rest happy knowing that you can have your beautiful impatiens and dog in the same room without worrying that it could end in heartbreak.

Even though impatiens won’t poison your dog, they can still suffer if they ingest too much of it as it can block their digestive tract and cause vomiting and other side effects that might need medical intervention such as surgery.

As well as this, dogs aren’t designed to eat a lot of plants at once which also causes vomiting and diarrhea.

If you find that your dog won’t leave your impatiens alone even after you’ve told them no multiple times, it may be a sign that their diet is lacking in something.

This is similar to when a dog eats a lot of grass and if it’s done excessively, it’s usually because they are lacking a nutrient such as fiber from their diet, so they are trying to supplement it with the grass or impatiens.

How To Keep Dogs Away from Your Plants?

Unlike cats, dogs are a lot easier to train and if you let them know a couple of times that nibbling on your plants is wrong then they will stop.

However, if you are an owner of a puppy then you likely know that they hate to be told no and will often do it anyway just for the fun!

If this is the case, there are other methods that you can try that will keep the plants away from your pesky pup.

The first thing to do is put your impatiens on a sturdy plant stand that is tall enough to stay out of reach from your dog.

If you have an especially energetic dog that loves to throw its weight around a bit then it will likely find it quite easy to knock over a plant stand.

To combat this, you can try a table that has a larger surface area which will make it harder to knock over or you could put the plant in a pot and hang it from the ceiling. It’s a good way to keep the impatiens out of the way of the dog and is also a lovely decoration.

Some houses have rooms that are off-limits for dogs and if your home has one then it’s worth putting your impatiens in there until your dog has lost interest in them or has gotten a bit older and grown out of their rebellious stage.

Pet deterrents can be bought over the counter at numerous different stores and are easy to spray onto any plants that you want your dog to stay away from.

They will have to be applied regularly but it’s a harmless way to keep your dog from munching on the impatiens and usually if they try it once they will never try again if they know it tastes bad.

Effects Of Poisonous Plants On Dogs

Some plants have a naturally occurring toxic substance such as saponin.

Plants such as pokeweed, emeralds, and striped dracaena have saponin in them and when your dog eats them, the sugar-bonded molecules separate, and the toxicity starts to wreak havoc.

The signs that your dog has eaten a poisonous plant can range from mild to severe and will vary depending on what kind of plant they have ingested.

For pokeweed, the symptoms that you might see are drooling, diarrhea that can sometimes be bloody, vomiting, trouble breathing, anemia, and seizures. These are just a few of them and if you don’t act fast enough, it may lead to death if they have eaten a lot of it.

Poisoning from pokeweed is treated in different ways that are dependent on what symptoms the dog is struggling with.

For example, if they are having labored breathing, they will likely be treated with oxygen therapy straight away.

If your dog is experiencing a severe case of poisoning, then it may even need a blood transfusion and will be given medication to protect the lining of its stomach and intestine in order to prevent seizures and regulate blood pressure.

Summary

Impatiens are beautiful flowers and are luckily not poisonous to your dog but remember that if they eat too much it can cause blockages and lead to vomiting and diarrhea.

If you see bite marks in your impatiens, then there are ways that you get them to a safe distance without spending a fortune.