Thorn apple is extremely toxic for dogs
Datura stramonium 
Thorn apple is an annual, very poisonous, herbaceous and very conspicuous plant.
It grows to about 1.2 metres high and has white or blue-red funnel-shaped large flowers.
The large leaves are coarsely toothed and dark green. The conspicuous fruit gives it its name: they are green, egg-shaped and spiky capsules.
All parts of the plant are very poisonous to dogs, especially the leaves, flowers and seeds.
Thorn apple is also known as:
- jimsonweed
- jimson weed
- devil's snare
- devil's trumpet
What should I do if my dog ate Thorn apple?
How toxic is Thorn apple?
| Toxicity: | (extremely toxic) |
| Toxic parts: | All parts of the plant are very poisonous to dogs, especially the leaves, flowers and seeds. |
| Toxic time: | spring, summer, autumn |
| Antidote: | Physostigmine |
If your dog shows symptoms of poisoning, it is always an emergency! Time is critical for your dog's life. You should immediately call your vet or the animal emergency services and make sure that a vet is on site and then go there immediately. For the treatment, it helps the vet a lot to know what your dog has ingested.
Occurrence Thorn apple
| Plant species: | herbs |
| Occurrence: | Gardens, Parks, Forests |
| Areas: | Central Europe |
| Flowering time: | summer, autumn |
| Fruit ripening: | summer, autumn |
Symptoms
The following symptoms may occur in case of thorn apple poisoning:
- accelerated breathing
- thirst
- difficulty swallowing
- dilated pupils and blurred vision
- palpitations
- death may occur due to respiratory paralysis
Treatment
The vet will always try to remove the ingested poison from the body and alleviate the specific symptoms of poisoning.
There are different methods to remove the poison from the body:
1. ACTIVATED CHARCOAL: Activated charcoal can absorb toxins. If possible, it should be administered within 2 hours after ingestion of the poison, so that the toxin does not enter the bloodstream.
2. LAXATIVES: The vet may combine the administration of activated charcoal with a laxative.
3. VOMITING: The vet can also induce vomiting using medication to remove the toxin from the body.
To alleviate the symptoms, the veterinarian may give an antidote and infusions in severe cases of poisoning. Vital functions may be monitored in severe cases. Anticonvulsant medication may be useful.
More information on dog poisonings can be found here:
Preventing, identifying and treating poisoning in dogs
Further poisonous plants from A to Z
DigiDogs in other languages and countries DeutschlandGreat BritainUnited StatesPolska
Copyright © 2023 DigiDogs, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.
Über uns -
Imprint -
Privacy Policy