Crab apple trees are beautiful to look at. With blossoms in the springtime that rival the beauty of other foliage, these trees are an ornamental staple for many yards. Despite their beauty, parts of this tree contain toxins that are harmful to household pets, including dogs.
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Identification
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The parts of a crab apple tree that are considered toxic to canines are the seeds, stems and leaves.
Significance
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The toxins contained in crab apple tree components are called cyanogenic glycosides. When ingested, these toxins are broken down by the digestive system into cyanide, a powerful poison.
Considerations
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Size plays a large role in how toxic a crab apple tree can be. Smaller dogs can suffer more harm than larger dogs. The amount ingested is worth noting as well. Larger quantities lead to more health problems, and the determination of large and small amounts are proportionate to the size of the dog.
Symptoms
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Dogs may experience symptoms from ingesting parts of a crab apple tree. Common symptoms include enteric distress, breathing difficulties, a weakened pulse and slow heart rate, seizures, coma and death.
Prevention
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Do not allow your dog near crab apple trees unsupervised. If the tree is on your property, consider removing it and replacing it with a non-toxic tree. Fencing around the tree is a viable alternative to removal.
Treatment
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Dogs who experience symptoms of poisoning from a crab apple tree should be taken to the veterinarian as soon as possible. The induction of vomiting at home is not recommended.
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