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Dogs are curious animals, always keen to learn about their surroundings through their mouths and noses. They will touch anything they come across, edible or not. If you have a garden full of beautiful plants, your dog is on a mission to investigate everything there.
Not everything that grows in your garden is safe. Some may cause harmful effects and cause serious symptoms. Therefore, it is always important to supervise your dog’s activities in your garden, especially if your garden has poisonous plants. Your dog won’t miss a chance to taste the leaves and flowers when he finds the smell of a certain plant appealing.
When analyzing plants that are safe for dogs, you can’t pass up sage and thyme. Not only are they safe for your canine, but they also have many health benefits. Read on to learn more about the benefits of thyme (creeping thyme and other species) and sage for dogs. This article also gives you insight into the plants that can withstand dog urine and those that are bad for your canine. Read on to learn more.
Is Thyme Good For Dogs?
Several herbs to grow in your garden can benefit dogs in many ways. They help maintain overall health, among other benefits. Thyme belongs to this class of herbs that play an important role in promoting optimal health for dogs. Among thyme species, creeping thyme is one of the most common plants in lawns and gardens.
Now getting to the point, yes, thyme is good for dogs when given in moderation. One of the most important benefits of thyme is that it helps keep a dog’s digestive tract healthy. This is because it has antispasmodic, or spasmodic, properties. If you have a dog with an irritable bowel, adding thyme to his diet will help soothe his stomach. It even helps relieve gas.
Dogs are susceptible to hookworm infection if proper hygiene is not maintained. This can cause inflammation in the gut. In severe cases, hookworms can even cause a massive reduction in red blood cells. Thyme is one of the best herbs for getting rid of hookworms and other parasites in dogs’ stomachs.
When feeding thyme to your dog, make sure to add no more than one teaspoon of dried or fresh thyme (per pound) to your dog’s food. However, it’s always important to get in touch with your veterinarian when you’re introducing a new ingredient to your dog’s diet.
Can Dogs Eat Sage and Thyme?
As mentioned above, thyme is safe for dogs when consumed in moderation. It has many positive effects on a dog’s stomach and helps manage digestive disorders. Thyme has antibacterial, antispasmodic, and mucus-clearing properties.This makes it beneficial Managing Some GI Issues in Dogs.
Known for its earthy taste and strong aroma, sage is also considered safe for dogs. Adding sage to your dog’s food will help boost his immunity, as it is rich in vitamins and minerals.
This herb is rich in fiber, which helps treat stomach problems in dogs. Its antibacterial, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties also make this herb effective for immune system function.Another important function of sage is to reduce seasonal dog allergies.
If you’re wondering how to feed sage to your dog, well, it can be fresh or dried. You can sprinkle it on their kibble or give it to them as a treat.
However, be aware that excessive consumption of sage may cause digestive problems in dogs.This is because sage contains a chemical called thujone that may Stimulates the dog’s digestive system when it enters its system in large doses. Therefore, when introducing sage into your dog’s diet, start with a small amount. You must always seek veterinary consultation before adding sage to your dog’s diet.
Are Thyme Ground Cover Plants Poisonous to Dogs?
Thyme is a great ground cover for dogs and is non-toxic to canines. It is mostly used in herb gardens and rock gardens to beautify the environment. When it comes to thyme, we can’t miss the creeping thyme, which grows sideways rather than upright.
A distinctive feature of thyme plants is that they cling to the ground as they grow. These plants thrive when they receive full sun. Without proper sunlight, the stems will become leggy and unable to cling to the ground.
Thyme has a spicy, pungent and warming aroma. This makes dogs very fond of these plants. So if you have these plants in your garden, your dog won’t miss the slightest chance to grab them. When you take your dog out for a walk, he’ll be eager to get his paws out into the surrounding thyme plantations. Be sure to keep him on a leash, lest eating too many thyme leaves can make him sick.
What Plants Can Withstand Dog Pee?
Has your dog been house trained? Well, that’s a boon. So, if your dog has a habit of peeing outside, will he do the same in your lawn or garden? Then, most of your plants are at risk, especially if they can’t stand the pee. Dog urine also contains nitrogen and other salts that can burn the roots of some delicate plants, leading to premature death.
However, some plants can withstand dog urine. Let’s take a look at them one by one.
1. Creeping Thyme
Creeping thyme is a low-maintenance ground cover. While creeping thyme is strong enough to stand up to dog pee, they’re not completely indestructible. They can withstand a variety of harsh conditions, including dog urine. When thyme is overly exposed to dog urine, it can be damaged and even die.
2. Bear’s Breeches
Their leaves look glossy, while the flowers are spiky and tall. They can withstand dog pee, but need a lot of space to grow freely.
3. Japanese Snowball
Native to Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan, Japanese snowballs have glossy, wrinkled leaves. This easy-to-grow plant does well in shade and won’t die when it comes into contact with dog urine.
4. Japanese holly fern
These plants are mainly found along the banks of streams, along coastal cliffs and rocky slopes. When growing Japanese holly ferns in the garden, make sure to keep them in the shade. They won’t grow well if exposed to direct sunlight.
5. Rose
Roses primarily need nitrogen to survive. They are resistant to dog pee, but overexposure to dog pee may cause them to wilt.
6. Mexican sage
This shrub grows 4 to 6 feet tall. Most of them need sun, but may even do well if they receive partial shade.
7. Silver Carpet
Their leaves are silvery green in color, hence the name. These plants need full sun to grow but can tolerate rocky soils due to their hardy nature.
8. Carpet Viola
They function as filler plants and mainly occupy open spaces in the garden. These plants protect delicate plants in the garden that may wilt when exposed to dog urine. They do well in shaded areas but can tolerate sunlight to some extent.
9. Burkwoods Osmanthus
This is one of the hardiest evergreen shrubs. Their broad leaves and white or yellow flowers make them great filler plants to adorn your garden. They are also able to withstand dog peeing and other abuse.
10. Japanese Spindle Tree
The tree, which grows mainly in China, Japan, and Korea, has hard leaves with jagged edges. Due to the thickness of the leaves, if a dog pees on them, the urine will not seep through and damage the plant.
The list doesn’t end here, though. There are other plants that can also withstand dog urine. These include squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage, parsley, basil, and more.
List of Other Dangerous Garden Plants for Dogs
Not all garden plants are safe for dogs. Many of these are harmful and can cause serious side effects if ingested by canines. Below is a list of some plants that may be poisonous to dogs if eaten.
- Castor Oil Plant / Castor Bean
- hemlock
- Dumbcane (Leopard Lily)
- mistletoe
- Cyclamen
- Yellow Oleander
- english ivy
- Japanese yew
- American yew
- Thorn apple (Jimsonweed)
- autumn crocuses
- wounded bleeding heart
- marijuana
- rhubarb
- green dill
- stinging nettle
- Virginia Creeper
- Jerusalem Cherry
- Delphinium
- Rhododendron
- sago palm
- laburnum
- Privet
- lily of the valley
- tulip
- Tianzhu
- african violets
- gerbera daisy
- gerber daisy
- adam and eve
- carob tree
- mexican cuisine
- lemon grass
- baby rubber factory
- Banana Squash
- bird of paradise flower
- black hawthorn
- black nightshade
- garden calla lilies
- garden marigold
- giant aster
- Kentia Palm
- King and Queen Ferns
- orange star
- ornamental peppers
- umbrella leaf
- Usambara Violets
- Manlong
- variegated laurel wreath
- veronia fern
- wine pepper
- Ponderosa pine
- Yorba Linda
When your dog eats a poisonous plant, the consequences depend on how much of the plant your dog ate and how much it weighs. However, the basic signs of poisoning after ingesting a poisonous plant are vomiting and an upset stomach. Some, like vines, can cause swelling and inflammation of a dog’s lips and mouth.
The dog may even drool excessively, have seizures and, in severe cases, fall into a coma. Always contact your veterinarian when your dog ingests a poisonous plant. If the veterinarian is not available, you can even call the Animal Poison Control Center helpline at 888-426-4435.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your dog eats too much of these plants, he may develop certain complications, such as stomach problems. When adding these herbs to your dog’s diet, it is always advisable to consult a veterinarian and learn about the proper dosage.
Besides thyme and sage, there are other garden plants that are safe for dogs. These include dill, camellia, magnolia, fuchsia, sunflower, rosemary, coral bell and more. It’s important to remember that these plants are probably safe for dogs. However, increased consumption can be harmful to them.
in conclusion
Most active breeds require a fenced yard or garden. This helps them maintain their physical and mental vitality. So, having a beautiful garden at home is a blessing to your four-legged friend. However, you need to be extra careful if you have a lot of plants in your garden. Keep poisonous ones in fenced areas. That way, it stops your dog from reaching them. Also, be sure to keep an eye on your dog when he’s in the garden. Otherwise he’ll happily chew the plant (which is probably safe for him).
Dr. Lillian is a DVM passionate about raising awareness for dogs. She shares her expertise through her blog at canineweekly.com and provides animal care services including internal medicine, dermatology, and emergency care. Dr. Lillian is dedicated to contributing to animal welfare.
