Peter Drake

Are red currants safe for dogs? Someone wants to put such a plant in my backyard as part of a study on hummingbirds.

A quick web search finds several sites claiming they're highly toxic and several claiming they're perfectly safe. Which ones are slop? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Dammit, Jim, I'm a computer scientist, not a veterinarian!

#DogsOfMastodon #toxicology #gardening #slopocalypse

Apr 2 at 4:03pmWeb
Show threadSky, Cozy Goth Prince of Cats1d ago

@peterdrake https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/currant/

You're getting confusing info because "currant" is both a variety of grape (which is toxic to dogs) and a separate, non-grape plant (which is not toxic to dogs).

Currants Is Toxic To Dogs | Pet Poison Helpline®

Currants are toxic To Dogs Clinical signs are agitation, aggression, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, tremors, & respiratory or cardiovascular depression.

Pet Poison Helpline
Show threadDeborah Preuss, pcc 🇨🇦1d ago
@skysailor @peterdrake yikes!
so maybe try searching with the botanical name of the plant you want to accept?
Show threadCecilia | MeraOrd1d ago
@peterdrake Seems like different people mean different plants when they talk about currants. I have had dogs for 25+ years, and have had currant bushes (black, white, red) for just as long - I've never had a dog interested in the bushes nor the berries, and never had any trouble with them. I highly doubt you would have any problem.
Show threadMike 🇬🇧 🇪🇺1d ago
@meraord @peterdrake
I can't see why a dog would have any interest in a redcurrant bush.
The fruit is unlikely to be tasty to a canine I'd have thought!
Show threadCecilia | MeraOrd1d ago
@MikeFromLFE I agree, it's very unlikely. Though, my dogs have all loved grazing from blueberry bushes (Vaccinium myrtillus L), which is very cute and not poisonous either. @peterdrake
Show threaddragonfrog1d ago

@meraord @peterdrake
Pet safety of foods is such a frustrating thing to figure out!

Onions are toxic to dogs - OK, fine, is that "if your Chihuahua frequently eats half a fried onion that's not great for its kidneys in the long run so maybe find something else it likes to use as a treat" or "a few pieces of 1/2 cm diced onion fell off the counter and your great Dane ate them? Don't finish making supper, get them to the vet now!"

Show threadCecilia | MeraOrd1d ago
@dragonfrog @peterdrake Onions seem to be VERY toxic to dogs, so are grapes. I found some information on an american veterinary site:
Show threaddragonfrog1d ago
@meraord @peterdrake
That is so much more useful than anything I've found! Quantities as percentage of body weight, specific symptoms! If you can share the link to that site I'd appreciate it.
Show threadCecilia | MeraOrd1d ago
@dragonfrog @peterdrake Sure, it is from the Garden state veterinary services: https://www.gsvs.org/woodbridge-nj/blog/onion-toxicity-dogs-emergency/
Onion Toxicity in Dogs: Emergency Guide to How Much Is Too Much

How much onion is toxic to dogs? As little as 0.5% of body weight can cause harm—just one medium onion may be dangerous for a 40-pound dog.

Garden State Veterinary Services Woodbridge
Show threadGinevraCat1d ago

@peterdrake Phone a vet??? Might be the easiest option.

(I hate phoning though).

Show threadbeatrix bitrot1d ago

@peterdrake the most conclusive thing i could find was this document http://assets.prod.vetlearn.com.s3.amazonaws.com/7e/07cb10bd6611e28e71005056ad4736/file/PV2013_Gugler_CE.pdf from 2013 that states that at that time there had not been any reports of poisoning from berries of Ribes species. i wasn't able to find anything more recent that said anything one way or another either

probably a lot of confusion is coming from the fact that one commonly consumed type of 'currant' is actually a kind of grape, ie Vitis spp rather than Ribes spp

but i am also not a veterinarian lol