If your pooch just stole the last of your bagel while you were briefly distracted, you might be wondering if dogs can eat poppy seeds at all. The answer is a resounding no. Poppy seeds contain alkaloids which can cause severe and immediate health problems in dogs, if they eat enough of them.
Keeping your dog away from leftovers and unattended food can be quite a task with a persistent four-legged shadow who wants a taste of your plate and wants it now. Poppy seeds are a common topping on bread, buns, sandwiches, salads, and even desserts like muffins. But they are not good for dogs under any circumstances.
Can Dogs Eat Poppy Seeds
Are Poppy Seeds Toxic to Dogs?
So why are poppy seeds bad for dogs? Poppy seeds come from the poppy plant (commonly Papaver somniferum) and are a staple ingredient in many cuisines. If it also sounds familiar for another reason, it’s because Opium is produced from this plant.
Poppy seeds contain chemicals called Alkaloids, which you may also know as Opiates, including Morphine, Codeine, Papaverine, Noscapine, Thebaine, etc. When eaten, these cause mild to severe, even fatal effects on dogs’ cardiac, respiratory, and nervous systems, depending upon the amount eaten and the size of the dog.
Although poppy seeds themselves contain lower concentrations of these alkaloids, it’s enough to consider them poisonous for dogs.
Are Poppies Poisonous to Dogs?
Yes, all parts of the poppy plant are bad for dogs. Specifically put, poppy seeds are a risk because they are a common part of our cooking. But they cause Opioid Poisoning in dogs. Dogs who have eaten poppy seeds in biologically significant amounts can show symptoms like:
- Disorientation
- Dizziness
- Uncoordinated or uncontrolled movements
- Watering of the eyes
- Constricted pupils (look for pinpoint pupils)
- Drowsiness
- Bradycardia, or decreased heart rate and slowed pulse
- Sluggishness
- Labored or slowed breathing
- Seizures
- Inexplicable hyperactivity
- Loss on consciousness
- Coma
- Death
How Many Poppy Seeds Does It Take to Produce Effects in Dogs?
The problem is that the exact amount and concentration that constitutes a fatal dose isn’t known. So, for teacup dogs or toy dogs, a few poppy seeds will be sufficient to start producing effects.
In a large dog, the entire incident may pass unnoticed, except for a little diarrhea afterwards. Or, if your dog has a pre-existing heart problem, even that minuscule dose may trigger effects.
The exact amount and concentration that constitutes a fatal dose isn’t known. Which is why if your dog has eaten poppy seeds, try to induce vomiting immediately, and take him to a vet ASAP.
How Bad Are Poppy Seeds for Dogs?
Because of the uncertainty of dosage, you should pay more attention to your dog even if you suspect that he has eaten a few seeds off the floor.
It’s tempting to think that large dogs have larger body sizes, so they might escape having consequences. You might find yourself wondering if dogs can eat poppy seed muffins and get away with it if they’re on the larger side.
But as mentioned, the size of the dog and the amount of seeds eaten does not follow any fixed pattern. Even a few seeds may contain enough alkaloids to trigger respiratory depression and slow your dog’s heart.
So, you might think that he’s alright and simply sleeping it off, but in reality his body is being actively affected by the opiates – sometimes with fatal consequences. This is why it’s best to let a vet