A flowering crabapple tree adds a nice splash of color to your yard, with the added bonus of its edible fruit. Closely related to the traditional apple, the crabapple makes a tasty jelly or a handy snack. You can share a bit of this treat with your dog, but make sure he doesn't get a bite of its toxic seeds or stem.
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Toxins
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The crabapple tree̵7;s seeds, leaves and stems contain cyanogenic glycosides. Chewing and ingesting them causes cyanide to be released. Cyanide can cause cell death very quickly.
Toxicity Level
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Crabapple seeds are rated as a Class 1 toxin. Class 1 is major toxicity, meaning they may cause serious illness or death if ingested.
Size
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Toxicity level depends on amount ingested and size of the animal. A few bites eaten by a small dog can be fatal, whereas a large breed dog would not show any symptoms even though it isn̵7;t healthy to eat any of it.
Symptoms
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Symptoms of cyanogenic glycoside poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, congestion, slowed heart-rate, seizures and death. Although more common in livestock that consume large amounts, dogs who eat crabapples can get sick or die.
Prevention
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Most dogs do not eat crabapples or the foliage. Watch your dog for any indications of eating on the trees. If you see this, supervise the dog when out, remove the tree or put fencing around the tree to keep the dog from getting to it.
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