Heard Of Grass Poisoning?

[sllebasi]

my brothers 16 month old GSD was in serious trouble this morning. Ended up having fits, vomiting and diarhrea (sp??), arrived unconscious at 24 hour vet, was put on charcoal and drip. Brother was told that he would not be taking the beloved pet back home.

All appears okay for now, vets amazed at apparant recovery, is sleeping at the moment, but all fingers are pointing to grass left in a compost heap which has produced a toxic reaction. not sure what long term affects are yet but still praying for recovery

anybody heard of this before

edit: no weed killer has been used

[Sheridan]

I think when compost starts turning into goo it can become toxic which is why it's recommended that a fence be placed around composting material.

[sllebasi]

the thing is though, he doesnt have a compost heap. Is going around trimming all trees, and anything that has flowers or berries, really trimming back and vacuuming up. There are no poisonous trees or shrubs but obviously something got her big time. fingers crossed for recovery.

[persephone]

all fingers are pointing to grass left in a compost heap

the thing is though, he doesnt have a compost heap.

I'm confused

Hope she recovers well ;)

[Staff'n'Toller]

I'd be surprised if he has absolutely no poisonous plants, but it may have been a specific berry, leaf or flower that was breaking down.

Here's a non-exhaustive list just for starters:

Anemones or windflowers (Anemone coronaria)

Bulbs (daffodils, tulips, jonquils, snowdrops)

Caladium bicolour (indoor foliage plant)

Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis)

Calice vine (Solandra maxima)

Cherry tree (Prunus serrulata)

Clematis (Clematis sp.)

Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster glaucophylla)

Cycads (notably their seed pods)

Daffodils (Narcissus)

Daphne (Daphne odora)

Delphinium

Devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum)

Dicentra (Dicentra spectabilis)

Dieffenbachia

Euphorbias (poinsettias, Euphorbia characias wulfenii)

Food around the house: ie, apricot kernels, avocados, chocolate, grapes, macadamia nuts, onions, potatoes, raisins, sultanas are all potentially poisonous to pets

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

Golden robinia (Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’)

Hellebore (Helleborus orientalis)

Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

Holly (Ilex varieties)

Hydrangeas

Indoor plants: many are poisonous to pets, so keep all indoor plants out of the reach of puppies and kittens especially, but also adult dogs and cats.

Iris

Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudo-capsicum)

Jasmines (the climbers)

Lantana (Lantana camara)

Lilac (Syringa varieties)

Liliums (especially dangerous to cats)

Madagascar jasmine (Stephanotis)

Mountain laurel (Kalmia varieties)

Mushrooms and toadstools

Nightshade (Solanum nigrum)

Oaks (Quercus varieties)

Oleanders (Nerium oleander, Thevetia peruviana)

Onions

Philodendron

Pines (eg, savin, Juniperus sabina, also several others)

Poinciana (not the tropical tree, but the shrub Caesalpinia pulcherrima)

Potatoes and green potatoes

Privet (Ligustrum varieties)

Pyracantha

Rhododendrons (including azaleas)

Rhubarb (leaves)

Snowdrops (Galanthus)

Snowflakes (Leucojum)

Stephanotis

Strelitzias (Strelitzia reginae, S. nicolai)

Sweet peas

Toadstools

Tomatoes

Tulips

Walnuts

Wandering jew (Tradescantia)

Wisteria

Yesterday, today and tomorrow (Brunfelsia)

Yew (Taxus varieties)

From another site:

Common Name Botanical Name Poisonous Part

Bird of Paradise Strelizia regirae Fruit, seeds

Boston Ivy Parthenocissus quinquefolia All parts

Caladium Caladium All parts

Creeping Charlie Glecoma hederacea All parts

Dumbcane Dieffenbachia All parts

Emerald Duke Philodendron hastatum All parts

Glacier Ivy Hedera glacier Leaves, berries

Heartleaf Philadendron cordatum All parts

English Ivy Hedera helix Leaves, berries

Lily/Liliaceae Family Lilium All parts

Marble Queen Scindapsus aureus All parts

Majesty Philodendron hastatum All parts

Nephthytis, Arrowhead Vine Synogonium podophyllum albolineatum All parts

Parlor Ivy Philodendron cordatum All parts

Pothos Scindapsus aureus All parts

Red Princess Philodendron hastatum All parts

Saddleleaf Philodendron selloum All parts

Split leaf Philodendron Monstera deliciosa All parts

Umbrella Plant Cyperus alternifolius All parts

Poisonous Outdoor Plants

Common Name Botanical Name Poisonous Part

Apricot Prunus ameniaca Stem, bark, seed pits

Azalea Rhododendron occidentale All parts

Baneberry Actaea Spicata Berries, roots, foliage

Buchberry Lantana All parts

Castor Bean Ricinus communis Seeds, if chewed

Choke Cherry Prunus virginica Leaves, seed pits, stems, bark

Daffodil Narcissus Bulbs

Daphne Daphne mezereum Berries, bark, leaves

Foxglove Digitalis purpura Leaves, seeds, flowers

Hemlock Conium maculatum All parts, root and root stalk

Hens-and-Chicks Lantana All parts

Hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis Bulbs, leaves, flowers

Hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla Leaves, buds

Jerusalem Cherry Solanim pseudocapscium All parts, unripe fruit

Jimson Weed Datura stramonium All parts

Jonquil Narcissus Bulbs

Lily-of-the-Valley Convallaria majalis All parts

Mandrake Podophyllum peltatum Roots, foliage, unripe fruit

Mistletoe Phoradendron Flavescens Berries

Morning Glory Ipomoea violaces Seeds

Nightshade Atropa belladonna All parts

Oleander Norium Oleander All parts, including dried leaves

Poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima Leaves, flowers

Pokeweed, Inkberry Phytolacca americana All parts

Red Sage Lantana camara Green berries

Rhododendron Rhododendron All parts

Rhubarb Rheum raponticum Leaves

Sweet Pea Lathyrus odoratus Seeds, pods

Tulip Tulipa Bulbs

Wisteria Wisteria Seeds, pods

Yew Taxus Needles, bark, seeds

[ellz]

Given that composting grass is potentially life-threatening to horses, it doesn't really surprise me that it isn't much good for dogs either.

[sllebasi]

We learn things every day.

When I say he doesnt have a compost heap - he doesnt in the yard. the dog is a working dog, and may have come in contact with some mould or something in the line of duty (so to speak). on some grass clippings.

when the vets are saying you are not going to take your dog home, and then two hours later, is trying to sit up and recover, and is now at home after being unconscious and fitting, and vomiting etc, they are saying that it was a massive, instant overdose/poisoning and for some reason (so far) the dog appears to be improving.

I work in childcare, and have passed on all the poisonous plants etc, would not have considered a grass clipping pile as lethal, so I have put it out there.

[sllebasi]

you also need to add

sheenas gold, aussie gold, geisha girl - not sure of their proper names but the flowers and berries are highly toxic - councils use them as dividers and they appear to be everywhere. they are also linked to the bat disease which is lethal as bats like to eat them.

[persephone]

the dog is a working dog, and may have come in contact with some mould or something in the line of duty (so to speak). on some grass clippings.

Ahh, Thanks.

Not a bait of some sort?Cane toad poison?

What toxin is it that the decomposition produces, do you know?

[sllebasi]

as you can imagine, today hasnt been a good day.

I know the words, compost, grass clippings, mould, fermentation have been mentioned. for a dog that was as close to deaths door instantaneously, to have at the moment and fingers crossed, appears to be recovering, it needs to be out there, that perhaps with the rain that many of us are experiencing, and with the grass being mowed more frequently that this is possibly something we all need to be aware of.

the dog was found collapsed under a tree after the other dog was going right off, that tree has now been removed even though it is not thought to be poisonous - may have been a freak accident that this dog has reacted to it, but the vet is saying due to the recovery that it is something like mould, grass, berry

[Snoopy21]

Mycotoxin poisoning from mould in the grass clippings perhaps? Can result in liver failure or neurological damage in extreme cases. I hope the dog is feeling better soon.

[sllebasi]

dog is still recovering slowly and appears that she may be out of the woods. Still dont know what caused it, and we were really lucky this time. My brother has done a check of the yard and cant find anything that may have contributed to the sudden attack. Have passed on some information from here about the grass mould and some other plants that he may need to look out for.

[Jed]

Hope she makes a full recovery.

Sheenas Gold and Geisha Girl are Durantas - and are poisonous.

Common name Duranta

Botanical name Duranta erecta, Duranta repens

Other common names Golden dewdrop, Sky flower, Sheena’s gold, Aussie gold, Geisha girl

Family Verbenaceae

General description A popular ornamental shrub to 4m high, often cultivated as a hedge.

Flowers The flowers are blue, purple or white, grouped together on spikes 4–9cm long arising from the leaf axils.

Leaves The leaves are green, gold or variegated.

Fruit/Berries The fruit are orange or yellow, about 6mm in diameter, with one hard seed in the centre.

Other The sap is clear. Spines occur on the stems of older plants.

Symptoms If eaten, the fruit can cause gastro-intestinal irritation, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Toxicity category 2, 3

I don't think her symptoms line up with Durantas. Just about everything is poisonous at some stage of development. Question is, how poisonous, and how attractive is it? I think couch grass is poisonous at some stage, but the animal has to eat about a tonne!!

May I ask, please, what is "bat disease" which is lethal? From bats eating the plants?

[griff]

Given that composting grass is potentially life-threatening to horses, it doesn't really surprise me that it isn't much good for dogs either.

True , One should never feed grass clippings to horses after mowing .

I remember as a youngin' I had to go around to my neighbours and kindly ask them to not feed any to my Pony.

Wishing the dog a full recovery .

[sllebasi]

lyssavirus (sp??) and hendra virus. its like rabies. last i heard it may have been something in bananas that the bats were eating.

you should never have horses near anywhere where bats roost (bat poo is lethal)

[persephone]

Mycotoxin poisoning from mould in the grass clippings perhaps?

Thanks- that's the word I was thinking of !