Is It Safe For Dogs To Eat Daisies?

Daisies are virtually almost everywhere you turn. Since our dogs are often tempted to eat whatever they see, they may eat daisies in the garden or while out and about on a walk.

The answer to “Is it safe for dogs to eat daisies?” is not straightforward because the word “daisy” can refer to different flowers. While some of these flowers are cultivated for eating or for medicinal properties, others are not edible and may cause health problems.

The most common daisies are the English daisy, Shasta daisy, and Oxeye daisy. These daisies are not poisonous to dogs at all. However, some of the daisies that belong to the broader daisy family, Asteraceae, contain compounds that can cause irritation and allergic reactions in dogs and humans.

Some of the harmful daisies include:

Chamomile Family

These plants contain essential oils such as bisabolol, anthemic acid, and tannic acid. Although they have medicinal properties, they can irritate the skin and gums.

Daisy Mums

They contain sesquiterpene lactones and pyrethrins (a chemical used to kill fleas). If consumed in excess, they can cause diarrhea, vomiting, drooling, and skin irritation.

If your dog eats daisies, find out whether it isn’t the kind that is poisonous and examine your dog’s mouth for irritation. Be sure to keep an eye on them and if you notice anything unusual, contact your veterinarian immediately.

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