Are Snapdragons Poisonous to Dogs?

Planting flowers around the home can be highly beneficial. They elevate your mood, reduce stress, and make your space beautiful.  

They also look good and enhance the beauty and décor of your home.

However, if you have a dog around, you should trade with caution.

Before you put up a beautiful flower garden in the backyard, you should consider whether the plant is toxic to your dog or not.

There are plenty of plants out there that aren’t dog-friendly. Is a snapdragon one of them?

What Is A Snapdragon?

This is a popular short-lived perennial garden flower that is grown as an annual.

It is a classic in many flower gardens—patio containers, flower boxes, and all.

The botanical name is Antirrhinum majus with other common names being lion’s mouth, dog’s mouth, and toad’s mouth.

The name is derived from the shape of the flower which looks like a dragon’s snout.

It also opens and closes in a snapping motion when bumblebees come around for pollination.

Snapdragons thrive in cold weather. As soon as fall or spring arrives, you will see the blossoms of every hue.

The bloom happens from the base of the stalk before going up and bursting in color.

When arranged with round summer blooms such as roses and scabious (both of which are dog-friendly), you will end up with nothing short of a breathtaking garden.

Just make sure there are enough bumblebees around because normal tiny bees and other insects cannot get the snapdragon to open its ‘jaws’.

Are Snapdragons Poisonous to Dogs?

Yes. Whether your dog ingests the snapdragon, licks it, or rolls around it, he will not suffer any issue at all.

The American Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals claims that this beautiful perennial garden plant is safe not only for dogs but for cats and horses as well.

This is good news for you. Your fur baby can handle the plant quite well.

As a responsible pet parent, you know that the fertilizer used when growing plants and flowers has to be dog-safe.

While the flower itself may check out, what you put in the soil can mess everything up.

If you choose to go with commercial fertilizer, be sure to follow the precautions to the letter.

For instance, some dog owners advise that it is important to prevent the dog from accessing the garden for a period of 24 hours after application. Don’t ignore that.

For more caution, break up clumps of fertilizer. Dogs are very curious and will want to find out what is inside the clumps. Chances are he will use both his nose and tongue to sample things.

If you can get your hand on pet-friendly fertilizer options such as grass clippings, fish emulsion, seaweed, compost, and manure, that would be even better.

You can also use bone meal but that may attract your pet to the garden. You certainly don’t want that.

Final Thoughts

Snapdragons not only add a richness of color and design to your home but are also totally safe for your Fido and cat.

Go ahead and beautify your garden with these blooms and rest easy knowing your dog will be just fine.