Introduction
There are many plants or trees that are poisonous. Some of them are castor oil plants, jasmine plants, golden dewdrops, rhus or wax trees, and white cedar trees. Among these, some have their seeds, some have their bark, and some have flowers that can be poisonous. Jasmine plant, here, lies with poisonous stuff in their flowers. Jasmine can cause poisoning by eating or chewing their leaves or flowers. There are different types of jasmine plants, but all these species are not toxic. However, mainly the yellow color jasmine is toxic and causes poisoning.
What Is Jasmine?
Yasmin is an Arabic name that means a fragrant flower. Jasmine is a plant present in the sub-tropical regions with a yellow color and trumpet shape of flowers. It is a resident of Central America, the Southeastern United States, and the Caribbean. It is also the state flower of South Carolina. It has an atoxic alkaloid called gelsemium. It has a scientific name, Gelsemium sempervirens, and the general name Carolina jessamine. But it is also named as
Evening trumpet.
Gelsemium.
Woodbine.
Apart from these, there are other types of jasmine also. Some are night blooming, and some are day blooming. They belong to the Solanaceae family. They are the evergreen plants that are available in the Caribbean island and other parts of the world. They have white flowers and the scientific name Cestrum nocturnum for night blooming and Cestrum diurnum for day blooming. But there is also a yellow color flower which is night blooming and very toxic. The night-blooming jasmine is commonly seen in the Southeastern United States, where it has a sweetish and overpowering smell at night times. It has berries that are toxic as they can cause poisoning in children and animals.
What Is Jasmine Poisoning?
Jasmine is a common name for several other different plant species. It is also used for other variants of jasmine. But yellow jasmine, night and day blooming are the main poisonous jasmine which has a toxic effect. Especially dogs and children are seen with fatal poisoning results. Children mistakenly suck such flowers that have a honeysuckle appearance, and the dogs who eat any part of it can have muscle weakness and paralysis. It has even shown symptoms of gastrointestinal upset, D3 toxicity and altered CNS (central nervous system) functioning, deposition of calcium and phosphate in the body, and thyroid and parathyroid dysfunction. So, it is important to deal with plants cautiously when children and dogs are around.
What Are the Symptoms of Jasmine Poisoning in Dogs?
Two variants cause jasmine poisoning in dogs; yellow jasmine and night and day blooming jasmine. Both these have different symptoms of jasmine poisoning in dogs. The symptoms are:
Yellow Jasmine:
Muscle weakness.
Paralysis.
Difficulty in swallowing.
Decrease in respiratory rate.
Seizures.
Difficulty in breathing.
Blurred vision.
Night and Day Blooming Jasmine:
Vomiting.
Depression.
Weight loss.
Increase pulse rate.
Gait abnormality.
Tremors.
Hormonal imbalances.
Increases bone density.
What Are the Causes of Jasmine Poisoning, Especially in Dogs?
Many such causes cause jasmine poisoning in dogs. Some of them are:
When the yellow jasmine grows in the garden.
Night-blooming or day-blooming flowers of jasmine are present in the garden.
When people are unaware of the toxic effects of jasmine.
Dogs who like to eat plants.
When dogs are living in warmer regions and climates.
Small dogs or puppies who are not yet adults.
What Is the Diagnosis of Jasmine Poisoning in Dogs?
Jasmine poisoning in dogs is diagnosed based on the history of eating or ingestion. It is also diagnosed when
The leaves or flowers of the plant jasmine are present in the mouth of the dog.
In case the dog is chewing, the flowers would be in its mouth.
If sudden symptoms appear of the toxicities and jasmine is somewhere around, the owner should also get alert and consult a doctor.
The owner should take the sample of the jasmine plant in a container and wash their hand after storing it.
Blood tests are also performed at times to diagnose the level of toxicity and calcium in the blood, as the calcium levels are high in the blood of the dogs who have eaten jasmine.
What Is the Treatment for Jasmine Poisoning?
The treatment for jasmine poisoning in dogs requires an immediate first-aid treatment which the owner possibly gives. First aid involves:
The owner should recognize the jasmine and immediately remove it from the dog's mouth and rinse the mouth with water.
And then, try to keep the dog calm and give the dog water or milk to drink.
Avoid vomiting induction for the dog.
Transport the dog calmly to the veterinary doctor.
The veterinary doctor will induce vomiting.
If more of the plant is consumed by the dogs, then the doctor may even use gastric lavage to remove the toxic product.
Activated charcoals are also used to decrease the absorption of toxic products.
Diuretic medications are also used to remove the toxic product.
Even the use of intravenous fluids can help deal with dehydration.
A few other medications are also given to control the symptoms of seizures or altered CNS functioning.
How Is the Recovery From the Jasmine Poisoning?
The recovery rate of jasmine poisoning depends upon the plant's consumption and species of the plant. If immediate or first aid is also given, then the chances of recovery increase. Most dogs do not die of jasmine poisoning, but there are chances of fatality.
How to Prevent Jasmine Poisoning?
Prevention steps involve:
Train the dog to avoid such unwanted things to eat.
Removing the jasmine plant from the surrounding or garden.
Planting the wheatgrass so that if dogs require it, they can chew that.
Checking the garden plants on a regular basis.
Getting aware of the first aid steps if the situation comes.
Conclusion
Jasmine poisoning is caused by chewing plants or flowers of the jasmine plant. It mainly occurs in dogs and children. The risk for dogs is even more than the humans. The dogs should provide first aid emergency treatment. Symptoms like paralysis and muscle weakness with altered CNS functioning are present. The prevention of poisoning is mainly by removing the jasmine from the garden and training the dog not to eat the unwanted plants.
