Ben has just taken to eating the dandelion flowers cropping up across my lawn. Much as I appreciate his help with them :), I'm not sure if they're going to cause him a problem. Does anyone know if dandelions are poisonous to dogs?
LynnT

Well, I know that the leaves can be used a a diuretic and the roots can be used as a laxative and that they're a good source of potassium....What the flowers do though?? Perhaps Ben knows the answer?? ;)

Perhaps he's passing the time! :) Dandelion clocks and all that. (Sorry, getting a migraine and feeling a bit light headed. Off to lie down in a darkened room)

Seriously, hope he's Ok. Would have thought they had strange texture bit like candyfloss. Bet Kerioak will know about toxicity. She was brill on subject of toads the other day.
Jackie

>>She was brill on subject of toads the other day.

She's pretty mean with a frying pan too :D

lol@Jackie.
Ben did savage a dandelion clock on his walk today, so he's obviously not bothered about the texture. :D
No signs of trouble at either end of him at the moment, so I'll keep my fingers crossed. At least the clock was an improvement on the goose poo he usually heads for in the park! :)

Leigh, you lost me with the frying pan?

LynnT

Christine uses frying pans for 'fox control' :D

Did a search on Dandilions and found this
Dandilions Amazing what you can find on the web!

I have used leaves and flowers in salads and flowers to make dandilion wine, traditionally collected on mid-summers day, (seem to remember it smelt revolting during initial stages but tasted fine). Have bought Dandilion and chicory coffee (revolting) when I was off real coffee.
Assume therefore that it would not poison dogs?

I put all sorts of things in salads - anyone tried nasturtian flowers - slightly peppery

Unfortunately frying pans cannot be recommended as a method of fox control but are useful if fox is actually with your birds at the time.

Christine

It would help if I could spell properly!
Thanks for the info. And now I remember reading what the frying pan was used for:D
Cheers!
LynnT

My mom went through a health nut phase when I was about 6 & used Dandilion greens in salads. Not only did I dread her salads, I then felt like an experimental guinea pig. They were horrible tasting!!!! And she had the nerve to call me a fussy child!!! :D :D
love her dearly though. Thankfully, the dandilion stage only lasted about 6 months because my dad refused to consume them too :D
toodles

christine I have used nasturtian leaves on salads , quiet like them , Mari

I'd love to know if there's a good reason for dogs eating them as two of mine do, a Whippet and mongrel. We were stood in the field the other evening and the two of them were merrily tucking in with seeming relish to loads of open flower heads, much to the bewilderment of the others who don't seem to have the same urges! They are all fed the same diet so surely it can't be lack of anything. Anyway, they don't seem to suffer any ill effects, I was just slightly worried about them wetting the bed!!! (Please tell me you have all heard the old wives tale or theat last remark will seem really odd!)

yep we used to call them p!!! in the beds .
I think the ones that like them are probably potential alcholics :D I believe that dandelion wine is nice . and the others are probably teetotal :D :D

Just a thought. Some weeds may have been sprayed with pesticides. Best stick to home grown dandilions.

We called them that too Mari:D :D

I brought this subject up last year when my Whippet who had been seriously ill started to eat Dandelions. This year both my whippets and now my Italian greyhounds are eating them. They really seem to enjoy them and they do not seem to have any ill effects. The one thing I have noticed is that they will discard some Dandelions in preference to others.

Dogs that actually have tastebuds????? :D :D :D :D Couldn't resist :P

Dandelions.
Our dogs also eat them but I would rather feed the heads, before they open to clocks, to our canaries.
Did you know that IF you make dandelion wine the best day to harvest the dandelions is reputed to be St Georges day.
Aren't you glad you now know that useless fact??

Great to know & helps when I make the wine, except for one thing..... When is St. George's day? :D :D :D

If my memory serves me correct, last Tuesday Toodles! Still, theres always next year! :d

Regards, John

Typical for me.... a day late & a dollar short :(

Ben was eating them around the right time then, but I'm sure he doesn't know about St.George's Day! :D
LynnT