Are California Poppies Dangerous to Dogs?

Poisoning

• Poppy poisoning may cause symptoms such as a lack of appetite, lethargy, walking in a drunk or disoriented fashion, slowed breathing, slowed heart rate, small pupils and, in extreme cases, coma. A poisoned dog may cry or stare at something in a distracted way. If you suspect your dog was poisoned or ate a potentially poisonous plant, contact your veterinarian or call the ASPCA's 24-hour emergency poison hotline at 1-888-426-4435. You may have to pay the ASPCA a consultation fee.

Human Poisoning

• The cooked leaves of the California poppy are considered edible, but the Plants for a Future website warns that, despite the lack of toxicity records for the plant, the number of poisonous plants in the poppy family warrants some caution around ingesting the California poppy. The opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), which occasionally ends up in flowers gardens despite its illegal status, is poisonous if ingested. Symptoms of poisoning may include labored breathing, respiratory and circulatory depression, stupor, coma, and even death, according to a North Carolina State University online article. Opium poppy is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant hardiness zones 8 through 10.

Considerations

• If your dog regularly eats or chews plants, it may be due to a lack of fiber in its diet. Cornell University recommends increasing the amount of vegetable fiber in such a dog's diet or adding bran flakes to its food to see if those additions help curb the problem. Monitor your dog outdoors to keep it from eating unknown plant matter, and take action if you recognize common symptoms of poisoning, such as vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal urination, weakness or difficulty breathing.

Culture

• California poppies grow in sunny, dry conditions in USDA zones 5 through 10, where the plants are hardy. Although they may survive a warm winter, they are commonly grown fresh each season as an annual. California poppies thrive in infertile, well-draining soil and are celebrated for their high level of drought tolerance. They are tolerant of maritime conditions, making them an option for some coastal gardens. Overly fertile soil often leads to an abundance of plant leaves at the expense of flowers.