If you take interest in planting and growing flowers and coincidentally also happen to be a pet parent, you’d always have a racing mind.
Before bringing in any flowering plant to your garden, you would always wish to know whether a plant is poisonous to your furry friend.
One such popular plant that you’d want in your area is zinnias, but are they safe for your pup?
Are zinnias poisonous to dogs?
Zinnias belong to a family of annuals and are considered to be one of the safest plants to have around a dog. No part of the flowering plant is considered to be toxic. Although zinnias are not poisonous to dogs, eating these colorful plants in large amounts can make a dog ill.
As zinnias are not poisonous it is considered safe for dogs. But eating them in a large amount can cause slight illness in them. Let’s get to know about different parts of zinnias that are safe for your pup.
Zinnia leaves:
The zinnia plant can have a range of different shapes of plant, with a range of green, having both stalkless and opposite kinds.
Zinnia leaves are not poisonous to dogs and they do not produce any sap that is poisonous to dogs. Since plants are not supposed to be a part of a dog’s diet, eating too many zinnia leaves, can, nonetheless, cause problems.
One of these issues is a blockage. This is particularly true if you have a young dog at home. Puppies have weaker intestines which may get blocked easily on ingesting hard to digest leaves.
You may also want to remember that eating leave in large amounts causes blockage. If your young pet eats leaves occasionally, you can expect certain stomach issues such as constipation from your dog.
Zinnia flowers:
As colorful and vibrant as zinnia flowers are, it is normal for your puppies to take a bite of them. If they are often attracted to chew them, it might be because they like the texture of it, more than the looks.
Luckily, zinnia flowers are soft and harmless as they do not contain any toxins either. Nevertheless, it is best to be careful as flowers often carry pesticides and fertilizers on them.
Even if the flowers do not cause sickness, fertilizers may make a dog sick and lead to vomiting and diarrhea
Zinnia seeds:
One of the easier to grow plants, zinnias are only planted once. Like all other zinnia plants, the seeds of this exciting plant are completely nontoxic and would not harm your dog even if they eat it.
When compared to other plants, zinnia seeds can cause more sicknesses like vomiting.
Are zinnias harmful to dogs? Are zinnias safe for dogs?
Zinnias are not harmful to dogs and can be kept around the house where you have dogs. Even if your dog chews on them and eats them, the plant would not cause any sort of poisoning.
With plants and pets, you would never know which part of a plant attracts a dog the most. Usually, the colorful flowers of zinnias may be a target for dogs but many also love to chew on the green leaves.
Sometimes a plant may have certain parts that are nontoxic to dogs but may also have poisonous parts.
Many times, the buds or stem may produce sap that can cause severe issues to a pet’s health. With zinnias, no particular part of the plant is known to produce toxins either.
Are zinnias edible for dogs?
While plants are not supposed to be part of a dog’s diet, you might have noticed how your dog is attempting to eat plants, flowers, and leaves all the time.
While zinnias are considered to be a safe plant to have in your house if you own one or more dogs, it might not be wise to label the plant as edible for dogs.
Generally, zinnias are edible plants for humans, and eating them would not cause any toxic reactions in your pet either. Because they are completely safe to chew for a dog, eating small amounts of the plant would not make any difference.
Sometimes if your dog has warmed in their stomach, chewing zinnia leaves can even comfort them temporarily. You should certainly refrain from adding zinnias to your plant’s diet in case you are thinking of adding fiber.
Eating large amounts of the leaves can cause long-term blockage in your dog’s insides.
3 reasons why zinnias are not poisonous to dogs
It is important to know why zinnias are not poisonous to dogs. Here are a few possible reasons.
It is confirmed by the ASPCA:
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or ASPCA, zinnias are one of the plants that are not listed in the category of poisonous plants.
This is an official method to confirm whether a certain plant is safe enough to be around dogs. If there are any parts of the plant that may cause harmful effects on the dogs, the body would mention it and classify the plant accordingly.
Does not contain toxic parts:
When it comes to a plant that is poisonous, it is always certain parts of the plants that are toxic rather than the entire plant.
In the case of zinnias, no part of the plant is poisonous or known to cause any health risks in dogs, particularly when eaten in moderation.
Neither the stalks, flowers, or leaves even produce any sap that may be toxic in any way. These parts do not contain any allergens either.
Dogs do not smell any danger:
If you are not aware already, there’s nothing more accurate than the senses of a dog.
Dogs are smell senses which allows them to identify which plant is toxic and which is not. Although all dogs do not have the same ability, many dogs would avert themselves from the zinnia plant had it been poisonous.
Why do dogs eat zinnias?
A dog eating a garden plant is not a rare sight in any household. Dogs have always been attracted to flowers and eating zinnias might be something you’d already seen your canine act upon.
One of the reasons that your dog may eat zinnias is simply because they are bored. For a lack of exercise and activities, dogs might find some sort of entertainment in chewing these plants.
If you want to keep your dog’s mind away from your zinnia plant, make sure to involve them in plenty of physical activities. Brain stimulating toys can also help reduce chewing.
Another reason that might make your dog eat zinnia is a deficiency of fiber in their body. If there is a lack of fiber, they might attempt to have a fill of that. Not eating enough meals can trigger hunger and hence make them eat zinnias,
Other than that, zinnias are soft-smelling plants with vibrant flowers that make dogs want to have a taste of them. Some dogs would even eat zinnias out of habit.
What happens when your dog eats excessive zinnias?
When all is said and done, we have to mention that eating anything in excessive amounts can cause dogs, and even humans to become sick. It’s a known fact that eating too many plants can cause health issues for plants.
While nontoxic plants like zinnias do not have any fatality when eaten by dogs, you may expect the following when your dog eats excessive zinnias.
The effects on the dog would vary depending on the age, size, and health of your dog, with weaker, younger, or too old dogs having more issues than fit and adult ones.
Intestinal blockage:
One of the problems you might expect dogs to go from when they have eaten too many zinnia leaves is an intestinal blockage.
This is a long-term effect and can be a cause of concern if not taken care of. If you have a puppy at home, keep them from chewing the plant because blockage can develop in puppies in quite a short time.
Constipation:
Another issue that mainly results from your dog eating excessive zinnia leaves is disturbed bowel movement.
This eventually leads to constipation in dogs as the leaves are hard to digest. The same can also make your dog feel stomach churns and aches.
Vomiting and diarrhea:
Spraying fertilizers and pesticides on the zinnia plant to keep the plant is wise but when your pet chews on the same plant filled with chemicals, it could cause serious stomach upsets.
There could be several harmful effects of which one of which is vomiting. When a dog ingests chemical, they immediately vomit. In a few hours, they start to have diarrhea as well.
Final Thoughts
Zinnias are a non-toxic, nonpoisonous plant that does not possess any harm to dogs. This plant is not edible for dogs, however, if a dog chews and ingests zinnia, there would be no health risks. When eaten excessively, it can make a dog temporality ill.