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Dogs and Hydrangeas

3 years ago

Hello! I have 4 hydrangea bushes in my backyard (fenced in) which I love. I am about to get a new puppy, and I read that hydrangeas can make dogs sick if they ingest parts of the plant. I am trying to decide whether to remove them. Has anyone had experience with this? Thank you!

Comments (8)

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Tons of common garden plants can be harmful to pets if eaten....some potentially fatal. But one almost never hears of dogs actually being poisoned in this manner. Dogs are smarter than we give them credit for and there is nothing at all tempting about most plants that would encourage them to graze on them. No steak flavored hydrangeas!!

    Outside of the young puppy stage when chewing can be a issue, you should not have anything to worry about. And like toddlers and small kids, puppies should be supervised when outside anyway, to make sure they don't get into any mischief. You may want to protect plants of concern until they outgrow this stage.

    I've gardened all my life with an assortment of dog and cat garden "helpers" and a garden full of potentially toxic plants. Never have I had any issues with them chewing or eating anything other a few blades of grass and some low hanging raspberries. Dogs are just not that interested in plants. 🤣

    D Bai thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
  • 3 years ago

    i wouldn't take any chances with a puppy. they'll chew anything and everything. can you put some sort of barrier fence around the plants?

    D Bai thanked Ninapearl
  • 3 years ago

    Do you have any idea how many common garden plants contain cyanogenic glycosides? It's a rather large number with some very surprising members and I can pretty much guarantee that most gardens will have at least a couple subject plants, if not more. And then there are all those scores of other plants with different toxicities we all grow. To be completely safe and toxic free, you'd need a naked, bare landscape!

    Per my previous comment, I also agree plants should be protected from inquisitive, chewing puppies, but once past that stage, there is little concern. The issue tends to be highly overstated.

    D Bai thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
  • 3 years ago

    Your puppy is going to eat your socks, toilet paper, sticks , trash can contents and various other things. Yes, not exactly “ toxic” but capable of promoting a trip to the vet. Plus dig holes in the yard or under the fence.
    I’d supervise the pup outdoors and see what you think. Provide lots of chew toys!

    D Bai thanked marmiegard_z7b
  • 3 years ago

    Thank you everyone for responding! I think we may get removable garden fences for the puppy period, and if our dog still seems interested after the first few years we will replant the hydrangeas elsewhere. But I will wait to see how curious she is about them. 🙂


  • 3 years ago

    It's been my experience that there is a direct correlation between puppies' interest and the cost of the item being destroyed after adjusting for the stink factor. Cats on the other hand, tend to show an inverse relationship between interest and cost, usually preferring the packaging of an item more than the item itself after adjusting for furniture corners of any expense.

    All the best to you and your puppy!



    D Bai thanked tozmo1
  • 3 years ago

    Pups are like toddlers, just plain busy and get stuck into all sorts of things. As long as there are heaps of things to keep them occupied, you won't have a problem. I have more of an issue with my older cats acting like fools. When I was younger, our pup enjoyed eating all the lettuce, but that was the only thing he got stuck into in the yard, and we had hydrangeas, mushrooms, lilies, and berry plants. Enjoy every moment with your new addition.

    D Bai thanked Rose Smith