How to Protect Your Dog from Water Hemlock

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29-10-2016, 20:42
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Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is an extremely poisonous plant that could be fatal to your dog if any part of the plant is ingested. The plant often grows in wet ground, and is especially common in North America and Europe. Although the plant is violently toxic, the likelihood that your dog will try to eat this plant is low. Usually, victims of hemlock poisoning are grazing animals. Still, by learning how to quickly identify poison hemlock, you can take the necessary steps to ensure this dangerous plant doesn't harm your dog.

Identifying Poison Hemlock

  1. Take careful note of the structure of the leaves. Poison hemlock is very easily confused with another poisonous plant in the same family (the Carrot family, Apiaceae) called Water Hemlock (Circuta maculata, which is also named "Poison hemlock" because of its poisonous nature), simply due to incorrectly differentiating the leaf structure from one species to another. Poison hemlock has leaves that are many-pinnately and -palmately divided.

Keeping Your Dog Away from Hemlock

  1. Fence off your yard. If there are any frequently wet parts of your land, be sure to monitor for hemlock each spring and summer. For even greater safety, fence off an area you know is free of danger to keep your dog from eating something poisonous or otherwise getting into trouble when you aren’t supervising.
    • If you live in a rural area, or near a body of water of forest, a fence is especially helpful in keeping your dog from being poisoned.
  2. Keep your dog leashed outdoors. Your dog should always be monitored when off your property. The best way to keep them safe is by keeping them leashed, aside from specific contexts, such as playing fetch together somewhere safe.
    • On walks, opt for a short leash. Short leashes are safer for multiple reasons, and can help prevent your dog from getting into anything poisonous.
    • Whenever you are outside together, always keep an eye on your dog.
  3. Teach them to drop something. Choose a command, such as "drop," to instruct your dog to put down something they've picked up. Not only will this help you control your dog's behavior generally, it will assist you in keeping them safe. If and when your dog picks up something you're ensure of, use the command to get it out of their mouth as quickly as possible.
    • To begin training your dog to drop something, start with a chew toy in one hand and a treat in the other. Once they latch onto the toy and take it, give the command to "drop" and hold the treat in front of their nose. If they release it, praise the dog and feed them a treat. Pick up the toy and repeat the process.
  4. Watch out for signs of hemlock ingestion. Signs often appear quickly, with death often occurring in as little as one hour. The plant is dangerous to many species, but is especially life-threatening for your dog. Look for drooling, difficulty breathing, and dilated pupils. Their heartbeat may become irregular, they may become physically weak, and may even began to twitch or have seizures.
    • Water hemlock is especially likely to cause seizures, and poisoning by water hemlock can show symptoms in as little as fifteen minutes.
  5. Take a poisoned dog to the vet immediately. Get your dog to the vet as soon as possible if you believe they may have eaten something poisonous. While organizations such as the ASPCA have helplines you can find online, you will likely be charged for a consultation by phone. It’s often better to simply get your dog to someone that can help care for them as soon as possible.
    • Your dog’s behavior will also likely be affected. Watch out for uncharacteristic agitation or nervousness.

Dealing With Hemlock Safely

  1. Do not touch hemlock bare-handed. Hemlock are dangerous to people and other animals, as well as dogs. Even a small amount can literally kill a horse. In fact, your dog does not need to ingest the plant for it to put them at risk. Accordingly, it's best to remove the plant when you find it, though it is important to do so carefully.
  2. Pull up hemlock with gloved hands. Remove any plants that pose a danger to your dog. Wear gloves, long sleeves, and full face protection. Pull or dig the plants up from the ground, to remove their taproot system. The younger the plant, the easier this will be.
    • It will be easier to remove the plants when the ground is moist. Consider watering the ground a short time before attempting to remove them.
    • Dispose of the plants safely. Place any plants you uproot directly into a plastic bag to be tied and placed in a bin for waste removal. Do not put them in your compost. Make sure the plants are entirely inaccessible to your dog, other pets, or people.
  3. Apply herbicides to specific sites. Use glyphosate, most commonly found in Roundup, to kill sprouts as they emerge. If the plant develops a bit but you still catch it in early spring, the herbicides 2,4-D, 2,4-DB and MCPA will still be effective in killing the plant. Since poison hemlock produces a large number of seeds, you may need to re-apply herbicide as new sprouts emerge. Read all herbicide labels carefully and follow directions.
    • Wear gloves, long sleeves, and respiratory and eye protection while applying herbicide.

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