Dog owners beware: stephanotis pods can kill dogs

A serious warning for dog owners

Be aware that the seed pods of the Stephanotis plant, also known as Madagascar Jasmine, are lethal for dogs.

This is a stunning plant with waxy green leaves and a beautiful white flower which gives off a gorgeous sweet scent. Be aware, there are several varieties, some with darker shiny leaves and others with lighter green leaves.

However, the pods are lethal for dogs and after hearing about the sad death of a dog after chewing one of these pods, a quick search on the internet shows that this is far from an isolated incident and that many dogs have died in the same way.

The seed pods are attractive to dogs as they have a slightly meaty smell and dogs can pick them up and toss them around as a toy before chewing. This, however, can be fatal.

The best advice is to monitor the plant in your garden if you have dogs and cut off any seed pods which start to form, and fence off the plant, or take it out altogether if you're worried about it.

The Datura is another one which can be lethal and can also have nasty side-effects for humans, so be aware of this one as well. Click for more info about the Datura.