Skin allergies

Staffords are prone to skin allergies and this can be caused by numerous things that the can get into contact with such as grass (wet or flowering), cement, bedding, soap, certain foods or plants.

Poisonous plants:

Some poisonous yet common plants, to dogs.

Some poisonous yet common plants, to dogs.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Brunfelsia)

This is a poisonous plant for dogs, and if they eat the plant, especially the fruit which comes after flowering, they may die. You should consider removing or at least fencing off this plant.

Wandering Jew (Tradescantia albiflora)

Is common in gardens especially in moist, shady areas. A horrible weed that is almost impossible to kill. Dogs love lying on it in cool areas, as it is comfy and cooling. Sadly, it causes an allergic skin reaction in almost all dogs. A rash and, later, ugly callused areas of skin form on the ‘elbows’, groin, stomach, under the chin and any area that the dog rests on. The solution is to rake up the plants or slash it with a whipper-snipper, put them in a plastic bag, seal it and dispose.

When the new growth occurs in the garden, fertilise it (use any fertiliser you have at hand) and get the plant growing strongly. Now spray it with Zero or Roundup with a few drops of dishwashing liquid added to the weedkiller as a spreader. Keep spraying each week until they give up. Tenacity is what kills Wandering Jew, not just the chemicals. Also, keep your dog off the sprayed areas for a day after spraying each time.

Stephanotis (Madagascar jasmine)

People have lost dogs as a result of them eating the seed pods of Stephanotis (Jasmine).

More poisonous plants

  • Inch plant

  • Purple heart plant

  • Trad

  • Moses in a Cradle (tradescantia)

  • Zebrina (tradescantia)

  • Turdle vine

  • many Bulbs (including daffodils, onions and snowdrops)

  • Toadstools

  • Tomato plants

  • Potato plants and green potatoes

Other poisons

  • Oleander (Nerium oleander)

  • Yellow oleander (Thevetia peruviana)

Many garden plants are poisonous to dogs, not just those listed here. Puppies to the age of about 18 months are better off kept fenced away from most garden areas. This protects both the dog and the garden. Many indoor plants are poisonous to dogs – so all indoor plants should be moved up out of Fido’s reach.

Poisonous foods

Curiously, many foods eaten by people are dangerous to dogs.

  • Onions

  • Apricot kernels

  • Macadamia nuts

  • Chocolate

  • Avocados

  • Grapes, sultanas and raisins can injure or kill your dog!