BBC expert warns common garden plant can be ‘toxic’ for pets

Vet Dr James Greenwood shared an easy distraction that can also help stop your dogs from digging up the garden

Dog owners who spot their four-legged friend digging in the garden or casually munching on garden waste might not consider it concerning, but while addressing viewer queries on BBC Morning Live, one veterinary surgeon explained when this behaviour could prove potentially fatal for your animals.

One caller, Steve, mentioned that his dog frequently eats soil during walks and from his planted containers in the garden. Dr James Greenwood explained this could be a condition called Pica, which can also affect humans, and it may be hazardous depending on the varieties of plants in your garden.

He stated: “The main thing here really is to just be worried about what he might find in that soil. So, one of the things that I’d be quite sort of nervous about is bulbs.

“Lots of the plant bulbs that we have in our gardens can actually be quite toxic to dogs. So just be a little bit aware of that.”

This includes some common springtime plants according to the RSPCA:

• Daffodils
• Tulips
• Bluebells
• Foxglove
• Azaleas and rhododendrons

These can trigger various symptoms in animals, from digestive problems to tremors, drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea. RSPCA guidance cautions: “In some cases, just licking pollen off their paws or fur can cause a reaction. The bulbs of many plants are particularly toxic.”

Dr James explained that pica happens when animals consume something non-edible, from concrete to plastic and soil. He observed this can be connected to medical conditions and if it’s accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea or weight loss and lethargy then it’s advisable to arrange a veterinary examination.

However, if your dog isn’t displaying these symptoms or digging up toxic plants, the vet confirmed there’s “no real harm” in dogs playing or consuming some soil, apart from it ruining your garden. But Dr James had a solution for that as well.

“If you actually lean into that and give him something to dig, a sand pit, for example,” he said. “You could bury some of his toys or treats and let him go and dig in that that is less likely hopefully to to go for the tubs.”

The vet pointed out that occasionally dogs may seem to be ‘eating’ soil but are in fact just using their muzzle as an additional ‘paw’ in their digging efforts.