Can Dogs Eat Poppy Seeds?

If you love eating bagels or muffins with poppy seeds, you might be wondering whether dogs can eat poppy seeds as well. In certain circles, poppy seeds have a bad reputation because they come from the Papaver somniferum plant, also known as opium poppy, and can contain trace amounts of opiates. However, there is very little risk of your dog feeling the effects of the opiates from a few poppy seeds and appearing “stoned”. In order for dogs to have enough poppy seeds to actually feel “stoned” from these opiates, they would have to ingest a far larger amount than they could ever consume.

Nevertheless, this does not mean poppy seeds are safe or OK for dogs to eat, and there are other reasons for why you should never give poppy seeds to your dogs. Read on to learn why poppy seeds are poisonous for dogs and what can happen if your pets have some without your knowledge.

Poppy Seeds Are Toxic To Dogs

According to many dog nutrition experts, including the Pet Poison Helpline, you should never give dogs poppy seeds because they are toxic for pets. Yes, it takes a lot of seeds to produce any effects of opioid poisoning, but no one is sure about how much it takes for any particular dog to become ill. Therefore, you should avoid poppy seeds all together, and find a different treat than a bagel or muffin to give to your dog.

In fact, there is a long list of healthy dog treats that are wholesome and good for pets, including watermelon, apples, bananas, kiwis, blueberries, pineapples, and salmon.

Poppy Seeds Contain Alkaloids

Any food that contains alkaloids is unhealthy for dogs to have. Alkaloids can wreak havoc on a dog’s central nervous system, and can even cause opioid poisoning. In addition, you also need to watch your dog around the garden. Some dogs love to eat plants and flowers, and any part of the poppy plant could pose a hazard for your dog. It might be best to avoid planting poppies altogether.

What If My Dog Ate Poppy Seeds?

When it comes to getting into things, dogs can be even worse than kids. It only takes a couple of seconds for your dog to find and eat something she shouldn’t. Unfortunately, this might include snacks that contains poppy seeds. If you think that your dog has ingested poppy seeds, you should watch her closely to see if she displays any of the following symptoms.

If your dog ate a few poppy seeds and you notice these symptoms, contact your vet immediately and seek treatment.

• Trouble breathing
• Decreased heart rate
• Hyperactivity
• Loss of coordination
• Inability to control body movements
• Watery eyes
• Seizures
• Zoning out
• Coma

Luckily, in most cases, your dog is unlikely to have eaten enough poppy seeds to cause any of these symptoms. However, you should remain vigilant and make sure to watch out for them, all the same.

No, Dogs Can’t Eat Poppy Seeds

We cannot stress enough how important it is to get your dog to a veterinarian’s office if you think he might have eaten poppy seeds. You should never try to induce vomiting yourself, especially if it has been over an hour since he ingested the seeds. In some serious cases, your dog will require IV fluids, as well as medications and monitoring to make sure that he is breathing properly and that his heart rate are normal.

The bottom line is, poppy seeds are dangerous for pets and can make dogs very sick, so don’t take the risk and find another delicious treat for your pup to enjoy!