What is laburnum?
Laburnum is a genus of plants in the legume family (Fabaceae), which also includes peas and beans. There are three types of laburnum: the common laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides), the alpine laburnum (Laburnum alpinum) and the water laburnum (Laburnum watereri). The plants grow up to ten meters high and have pinnate leaves. The yellow flowers appear from May to July in clusters up to 60 centimeters long. Brown legumes containing seeds develop from the flowers.
Why is laburnum poisonous to dogs?
Laburnum contains the alkaloid cytisine in all parts of the plant, but especially in the seeds. This substance affects the dog's nervous system and can lead to severe symptoms of poisoning. The symptoms include
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- salivation
- tremors
- cramps
- shortness of breath
- palpitations
- Unconsciousness
- Death
The amount of cytisine that is fatal to a dog depends on its weight, state of health and the dose ingested. Even a few seeds can be fatal for a small dog. Therefore, you should always keep an eye on your dog when walking it near laburnum. If you suspect that your dog has eaten laburnum, you should consult a vet immediately.
Does laburnum also have benefits for dogs?
Laburnum does not only have negative sides for dogs. In naturopathy, laburnum is used as a medicinal plant that is said to help against coughs, asthma and bronchitis, among other things. However, laburnum should only be used under expert guidance, as the risk of overdosing is very high. There are also other herbal remedies that have a similar effect and are less dangerous.
