Is iris poisonous to dogs?

Updated 29/09/2023

Blooming their shades of violet and white and unusual petal structures, it’s no wonder that irises are popular amongst us humans. If you’re a pet parent and you like to dabble in the garden, this might leave you wondering - is iris poisonous to dogs, or is it a safe flower for your pooch to nibble on? Well stay with us as we explore just that, so you can keep your pooch as safe as possible during playtime.

Can dogs eat iris?

So, are iris toxic to dogs? Unfortunately, it’s a yes on this one - iris flowers are poisonous to dogs. We’ll explore the symptoms of iris poisoning in dogs below, but explore for your information, not if your pup has just eaten an iris flower – if this is the case, give your veterinarian a call for advice right away. 

This might also have you wondering - is gladioli poisonous to dogs? It’s a yes here, too. Gladiolus is a genus of plant in the iris family, so they too can cause serious symptoms of toxicity. Like other common garden plants, the most poisonous part of the gladioli is the bulb, containing a particularly concentrated selection of the toxic compounds that are dangerous for our furry friends.

Iris poisoning in dogs

So, we’ve established that your curious pup shouldn’t be going anywhere near your iris plants. In fact, if your pooch is prone to nibbling on garden flora, consider the placement of your iris plants (maybe a hanging basket would be safer) or dig them up and be done with iris plants altogether, all in the name of keeping your pup safe from harm. Below we’ll explore the symptoms of iris poisoning in dogs, along with the methods of diagnosis that might be taken by your vet, along with possible treatments.

Symptoms

Depending on how much of the plant your pup nibbled on and what part was ingested, their symptoms could be any of the following. And just one thing before we look at those – you shouldn’t wait for these symptoms to arise before contacting your vet – as soon as you suspect your pup has nibbled on an iris, you should give your vet a call to discuss any action that may be needed before your pup gets too sick.

• Lethargy
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting & diarrhea
• Drooling
• Eye and skin irritation
• Burn-like sores on face
• Death

Diagnosis

Below are a few of the ways your veterinarian may choose to assess your pup for iris poisoning…

• Your vet will check your pup’s vitals, carefully performing a physical examination to note any abnormalities.
• Your vet will check your pups' hydration and mucous membrane colour, and they will palpate your pups' abdomen checking for any pain or signs of blockages, check their temperature, and discuss any signs of gastrointestinal upset like vomiting or diarrhea with you.

Treatment

• Your vet may induce vomiting if the iris was recently ingested and administer activated charcoal to soak up any remaining toxins from your pup’s stomach.
• To prevent dehydration, fluid therapy may then be administered.
• Your vet will also wash your pup’s face and eye area if they’ve been irritated by the iris plant, as iris is known to cause skin irritation if handled as well as gastrointestinal (tummy) signs if ingested

Generally, illness from consuming iris is considered mild, and treatment is dependent on the volume of plant consumed. Treatment is usually focused on symptomatic and body-supportive care. If veterinary advice and treatment is sought early, your pup will be expected to make a full recovery.

Meet our veterinary expert, Lily

This article has been checked by veterinarian Lily Richards BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS. Lily qualified from Liverpool University in 2011 and spent 5 years as a veterinarian working in mixed animal practice. As Lily’s passion for exotics and exploring more complicated small animal medical cases developed, she stepped into small animal-only practice. By 2018 Lily was leading a busy branch of a large hospital practice with a fantastic team, enjoying working on both surgical and medical cases. Since falling poorly in 2021 Lily has found a new passion in medical writing. Sharing medical knowledge and writing for the public is a particular passion. 

Other plants that are poisonous to dogs

So like many of the plants us humans love, iris and dogs simply aren’t a match made in doggy heaven. To avoid any of these nasty symptoms, get clued-up on plants poisonous to dogs, starting with those below.

• Foxglove
• Lily of the valley
• Oleander
• Dracaena
• Ivy
• Philodendron