Are chrysanthemums toxic to dogs?

Updated 21/09/2023

Found in all the shades of the rainbow, it’s no surprise that chrysanthemums (otherwise known as chrysanths and mums) are particularly popular amongst us humans, and our gardens. If you’ve got a furry family at home though or you’re welcoming a puppy soon, you’ll want to make sure your home is as safe for your buddy as possible. So, are chrysanthemums toxic to dogs or can dogs eat chrysanthemums? Get in the know here.

Are chrysanthemums poisonous to dogs?

Yes, if your dog ingests any part of a chrysanthemum plant, they can experience symptoms of toxicity (we’ll explore those below).  

Why? Well these (seemingly pretty) flowers have compounds such as pyrethrin and sesquiterpene, which are toxic to pets. Pyrethrin is an ingredient for insecticides such as flea treatments.  

Sadly, many other common household items contain the insecticide, making them poisonous to your dog. These include household (and commercial) insecticide sprays, roach sprays, ant sprays, ornamental outdoor pesticides, tick solutions, hornet sprays and lice solutions.

Chrysanthemum poisoning in dogs

So now we know that chrysanthemums are toxic to dogs, what are the symptoms and how will your pooch be treated for them? Take a look below to find out.

Symptoms

The symptoms your pooch experiences will depend on how much of the plant was ingested and how long ago it happened. Below explore some of the symptoms likely to crop up if your pooch has nibbled on your chrysanthemum plants.

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Drooling
• Shaking
• Agitation
• Incoordination
• Skin rashes

Diagnosis

If you think your pooch has taken a nibble on your chrysanthemum plant, it’s vital that you get to your veterinarian as quickly as possible. If you can, try to go equipped with knowledge on when your pup ate the plant and how much of it was ingested. It’s also a good idea to take along a sample of the plant with you to help with diagnosis. Your vet is likely to complete a  physical examination of your pup, along with taking a blood test, urinalysis and skin examination. If any remnants of the plant are found on your dog’s body, such as pollen your vet may give them a bath to avoid any further ingestion of the chemical.

Treatments

Like with any form of poisoning in your pup, the treatments chosen by your vet will be determined by the level of toxicity and the symptoms they’re displaying. Some of the treatments your pup may encounter include:

• Use of activated charcoal to absorb any remaining chemicals from your pup’s system
• Muscle relaxants for tremors or seizures 
• Intravenous fluids for rehydration after vomiting and diarrhea
• Medication to stop your pup from vomiting

Meet our veterinary expert, Corinne

This article has been checked by veterinarian Corinne Wigfall BVMBVS(Hons) BVMedSci(Hons). Corinne is originally from Wales and moved to New Zealand after graduating university. She started her career with a university based equine internship and moved onto mixed and small animal practice. Currently she splits her time between online tele triage and working in an after hours vet clinic.

Other plants that are poisonous for dogs

Unfortunately, lots of the plants us humans love to plant in our gardens are poisonous to dogs. Keep your place as safe as you can for your pooch, getting to know the plants toxic to dogs starting with our list below.

• Lily of the valley
• Dracaena
• Azalea
• Ivy