These trees in Denver’s park system can be toxic to pets
DENVER (KDVR) — Warmer weather can create dangerous conditions for your pets. One Denver woman told FOX31 her dog was poisoned after eating brown seeds that fell from a tree at Washington Park.
The Problem Solvers learned the Kentucky coffeetree is found across the Denver metro area.
Megan Hanson’s 6-year-old golden retriever Murphy is happy to be home after spending nearly a week in Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital, undergoing treatment that saved his life.
“It was just the hardest week of my entire life,” Hanson told FOX31.
‘I noticed he was pretty lethargic’
Hanson noticed a change in Murphy’s behavior after a trip to Washington Park on April 21.
“He’s always sniffing the ground and chomping on sticks and leaves, and then later that night, I noticed he was pretty lethargic,” she said.
Hanson rushed Murphy to the emergency clinic after his symptoms got worse.
“There’s definitely a point where we thought he wouldn’t make it,” she said.
These 22 plants found in Colorado are toxic to dogs and cats
Veterinarian Stacy Meola found a pod and seeds in Murphy’s system and quickly identified them as coming from a Kentucky coffeetree.
“There are seed pods, there’s toxic mushrooms and other plants out there, so you really want to be keeping an eye on them that they’re not eating anything,” Meola said.
The Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine guide to poisonous plants confirms toxins are present in Kentucky coffeetree leaves and seeds. It is also associated with the poisoning of livestock that consume water tainted with the seeds.
Meola told the Problem Solvers that nature areas can contain other risks to pet health.
“I’ve had dogs that have found illicit drugs and other foreign bodies. There’s some crazy things out there,” Meola said.
How to tell if your dog ingested a toxic substance
The key sign of exposure to a toxic substance is continuous vomiting.
“Vomiting once is typically not a concern. They start to become lethargic, their appetite goes down, you start to see other signs — that’s when you should get them in and they should be evaluated,” Meola said.
Hanson said Murphy is recovering but will take time to regain his strength. She’s just happy to have her best friend home again.
“We go hiking, we love to go camping together, he loves to go skiing. He’s like the perfect Colorado dog,” she said.
6 dangerous — and deadly — plants and fungi found in Colorado
The Problem Solvers asked Denver Parks and Recreation about the number of trees in nature areas. A spokesperson told FOX31 that Kentucky coffeetree seeds can be toxic to pets, and there are more than 3,100 planted throughout the system — some of which are believed to be 80-100 years old.
Denver has introduced a podless variety of Kentucky coffeetree in recent years.
Veterinarians told FOX31 that pet owners should always keep their emergency number nearby and bring their pet in for medical attention if they experience excessive vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, tiredness, seizures or changes in eating habits.
Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital and the American Kennel Club have more tips about emergency care.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
