Need help identifying Rhododendrons/Azaleas

[Kelly Williams]

Hi all,

Our yorkshire terrier has been very ill recently, he is partial to eating leaves and the vet thought that he had damaged somewhere in his stomach or intestines by eating them.
I read in the news this morning that Rhododendrons/Azaleas are poisonous to dogs. Going by his weight, he would only need to eat about 8g to poison himself.

Since our garden was already planted when we moved in and I'm no botanist please could you help me identify if these are Rhododendrons/Azaleas? I know there are many types and hybrids so doing it myself is proving difficult.

Thank you,

Kelly

- I'm uploading photos from my phone, it may take a while!

[Kelly Williams]

[Kelly Williams]

[Kelly Williams]

[veggiechicken]

Sorry to hear about your dog Kelly. Hope he recovers soon.
These are my guesses on identification
First set of photos
1 - 4 Could be rhododendron
5 - Don't think its either

Second set
1-4 Not either
5, Could be rhodo but looks more like Photinia Red Robin

Third set
Don't think any of them are rhodo or azalea.

Wait for other opinions!!

[Kelly Williams]

Thank you so much for your help! We caught the little bugger trying to hide this in his bed last week! (That's a mans hand!!!)

[veggiechicken]

Big leaves for small dogs He sounds real little character

[Kelly Williams]

photos 1 & 3 of the first set have 2 different plants in them, do you think all of them could be rhododendron ?

[mothhawk]

I would say pretty much all those plants will be toxic in quantity to a small dog. Why does he eat leaves? A bit of grass is OK but chewing and swallowing leaves of shrubs is aberrant behaviour. Train him not to. Is he lacking in some minerals/vitamins? What reason does your vet give? If you can't train him not to do this, either rip out your garden or buy a muzzle for him to wear when outside so he can't get at the leaves.

[veggiechicken]

Photo 1 could be the one on the left (looks like the one you found in the basket) Not the yellowy one on the right.
Photo 3 could be the one on the right, not the smaller leaved one.
I don't see any that look like azalea - but I'm not an expert!! And I have big question marks against some of the maybe ones. Most of the shrubs look familiar but I can't put a name to them all at the mo.

[Kelly Williams]

We dont really know why he eats leaves, he has some of the best complete food out there so I doubt its a deficiency in something. He does the same thing if he gets his paws on a receipt (or a £20 note).

Thanks again for your help veggiechicken, its a lot more than I would have got on my own!

[mothhawk]

I don't know all the plants, but here's the ones I do (or think I do)

series 1
1. viburnum on the left, could be weigella on the right, (the flowers look right but the leaves look a bit shiny)
2.can't tell
3. left can't tell, right rhododendron
4. can't tell could be a rhodo
5. hebe

series 2
1. viburnum (different one - there are dozens of viburnums, all very different looking)
2. pittosporum
3. senecio
4. eleagnus
5. photinia

series 3.
1. looks a bit like a camellia
2. hebe
3. viburnum
4. may be yet another type of viburnum

[mothhawk]

We dont really know why he eats leaves, he has some of the best complete food out there so I doubt its a deficiency in something. He does the same thing if he gets his paws on a receipt (or a £20 note).

He's an expensive little blighter then, between vet's fees and swallowing money!

Of course that could just be his way of paying the vet's bill while he's there

[Kelly Williams]

He's an expensive little blighter then, between vet's fees and swallowing money!

Of course that could just be his way of paying the vet's bill while he's there

True that!!

[Two_Sheds]

Why does he eat leaves? Train him not to. ..or buy a muzzle for him to wear when outside

We dont really know why he eats leaves, He does the same thing if he gets his paws on a receipt (or a £20 note).

How do you react when he does this?
Excitably? Loud voices, arm flapping,shouting?

to me, it seems like attention-seeking behaviour. I don't think food is the issue, it's attention. He's bored, or he has too much energy, so he's being naughty to amuse himself.
Does he get enough exercise? I mean REAL exercise, running, hide n seek, tug, meeting other dogs to play?

A 5 min walk round the block for a poo just isn't enough for some dogs, and they'll act up if their need for (mental & physical) exercise isn't met