Mary Allen
When it comes to poppies, opinions differ. Some love little black grains. And some do not like the taste of poppy seeds at all.
Dogs are likely to be particularly interested in the sugar in the poppy seed cake. The poppy seed filling will be a minor matter for them.
At the latest when I heard that the poppy seeds for the cake are made from opium poppies, I asked myself how healthy poppy seeds actually are. After all, drugs are also made from it.
Fear of poisoning?
In the past, poppy seeds were repeatedly criticized for their morphine content. I suspect that’s why the recommendation has prevailed today not to let dogs eat poppy seeds in general.
Babies shouldn’t eat poppy seeds either. This recommendation has been in place since a few scandals in the mid-2000s. Back then, foods like poppy seeds were contaminated with opium alkaloids and morphine.
At least something has happened in the meantime. Since poppy has been monitored as a food, the opiate content of poppy seeds has continued to decline.
This is because opium poppy seeds contain neither morphine nor alkaloids such as codeine, noscapine, papaverine, and thebaine. In the past, the residues came mainly from unclean harvesting methods.
Drugs from the poppy field?
The opium poppy (lat. Papaver somniferum) is closely linked to human history. Its seeds taste slightly nutty.
For centuries, the plant has been used to produce medicines and intoxicants. Maybe that’s why the poppy has the reputation of being a drug plant. Opium and heroin are also extracted from immature seed pods.
Whereby the seeds of alkaloid-poor poppies would not be a danger. Rather, the poppy seeds even contain valuable vitamins such as vitamins B and E as well as iron, calcium, potassium, and unsaturated fatty acids.
Fields with poppies or garden plants
Only one type of poppy seed that does not contain morphine may be grown in Germany. In Austria, six varieties of opium poppy can be grown, the morphine content of which is also immeasurably low.
With a normal poppy seed roll, there is no danger of being intoxicated or poisoned.
On the one hand, the amount of poppies here is extremely small. On the other hand, the surface of the rolls is heated to over 220 °C during baking. This reduces the morphine content and only 10 to 20% of the original amount remains.
The great danger for small animals
Processed poppy seeds are safe for us humans and do not pose any danger. The calculation for our beloved four-legged friends is different. Because even the smallest amounts of the alkaloids are dangerous for dogs.
Small dogs in particular can be poisoned by small amounts of poppy seeds. This is related to the fact that the dangerous dose depends on body weight.
Therefore, a 90-kilo man could eat two pieces of poppy seed cake with questionable limits without any problems. His four-year-old daughter would have had to deal with the same amount of stomach pain and symptoms of poisoning. And for a 7-pound Chihuahua, even being admitted to a veterinary clinic might be too late.
If your dog steals a piece of cake while baking, extreme caution is required.
My dog ate poppy seeds, what should I do?
For the following analysis, we assume that we are dealing with poppy seeds that slightly exceed the limit values for morphine and opium alkaloids.
Because the amount of poppy seeds consumed is still decisive.
- With a poppy seed roll, it is only a few grams.
- With a portion of steamed dumplings with poppy seeds, you quickly get 75 grams of poppy seeds.
- And a piece of poppy seed cake can sometimes contain 150 grams of poppy seeds.
However, should it ever happen that your dog eats some poppy seeds, you can be lucky and nothing will happen at all. Otherwise, the signs of poisoning are symptoms such as cramps, colic, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and obvious restlessness.
If you suspect morphine poisoning, you should see your vet as soon as possible. In practice, toxic food components can be brought out.
In addition, further treatment is initiated immediately. Activated charcoal can help to bind the toxic substances. Breathing is also stabilized with the help of naloxone.
Depending on your dog’s health condition, with timely treatment, he will recover within a few days or weeks. It is also crucial how much poppy he has eaten in relation to his own body weight.
Keep all products containing poppies out of your pet’s reach. Also, do not throw away any leftovers that your four-legged friend could retrieve.
The following applies: it is better to be safe than sorry. Especially if your dog likes to grab some food from the kitchen.
Corn poppies in the garden
The same precautionary measures also apply to supposedly harmless ornamental plants such as the red-flowering corn poppy or the white alpine poppy.
These plants also contain alkaloids, which serve to protect the flower itself from predators. If you are planning to photograph your four-legged friend in a sea of colorful flowers, you should make sure that he does not eat plants.
Poppy seed cake poisoning?
All in all, however, most dogs instinctively know what is and isn’t good for them. However, a fragrant piece of poppy seed cake is eaten faster than a wild poppy plant.
You should therefore be doubly careful with baked goods and foods containing poppy seeds. In the wild, a meadow usually does not pose a danger to dogs.
Are poppy seeds healthy for dogs?
According to the latest scientific studies, the situation with poppies no longer looks quite as threatening. As a tip, I have read that washing and high temperatures always reduce the opium residues to harmless levels.
Still, I wouldn’t make sleeping milk by boiling 300 grams of poppy seeds in milk. Even less would I give this drink to my dog?
The big poppy scandal from back then was quickly forgotten. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) have been calling for comprehensive monitoring for years.
Relatively little happened. That’s why individual samples every few years cause regional scandals.
Be alert but not afraid. Then nothing can happen to you and the dog. Then you can enjoy the splendor of the colorful flowers to the fullest.
Frequently Asked Questions
The poppy mainly causes restlessness, breathing problems, cramps, colic, and diarrhea in dogs. If you see these signs, you need to see a vet as soon as possible.
What to do if your dog ate poppy seeds?
If your dog has accidentally eaten poppies, it is better to consult a veterinarian. The alkaloids morphine and codeine contained in the poppy are responsible for the symptoms of poisoning.
What can a dog not tolerate?
Among them are the potatoes, aubergines, and tomatoes, which belong to the nightshade family. All three contain the toxin solanine, which occurs primarily in the green areas. Raw or sprouting potatoes are particularly dangerous for dogs.
Is poppy a grain?
Poppy (Papaver) is a genus of plants within the poppy family (Papaveraceae). The 50 to 120 species worldwide thrive mainly in the temperate areas of the northern hemisphere. Only one species occurs in the southern hemisphere in South Africa.
What is poisonous to dogs?
Nightshade plants like raw potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant contain an ingredient called solanine, which is toxic to dogs and causes vomiting and diarrhea. Caffeinated beverages and energy drinks are dangerous because of the methylxanthine in caffeine.
What is toxic to dogs in the garden?
- Arum
- Henbane
- Yew
- Spotted hemlock
- Laburnum
- Hyacinths
- Lily of the valley
- Daffodils
- Euonymus
- Tansy
- Deadly nightshade
- Meadow Bear Claw
Is Oatmeal Good for Dogs?
Oatmeal is perfect for dogs as a little change, a perfect healthy snack in between meals or to help with digestive problems. Not only are they super tasty for your dog, they also contain a lot of fiber.
Is salami good for dogs?
Highly salted foods, such as chips, peanuts, or salami, can lead to stomach and kidney problems. The dog’s body tries to break down the sugar that isn’t there. This can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, low blood sugar, or, in the worst case, death. Dogs cannot tolerate lactose.
Is Flaxseed Good for Dogs?
Small seeds are big: Linseed can support the barrier function of the mucous membranes in your dog’s stomach and intestines. They also strengthen the body’s digestive function and the natural peristaltic function of the intestine.
How do I give my dog flaxseed?
Because only with a little liquid in the feed is the linseed able to draw the water required for its swelling from the dog’s intestine and thus cure diarrhea in the dog. If you feed high-quality wet food, you can simply add the flaxseed to the bowl when feeding.
Is a poppy seed bun healthy?
Mmhh… We love poppy seed rolls, marzipan poppy seed cake, or spicy poppy seed rolls. Rightly so: poppy seeds contain a lot of healthy calcium – and have an intoxicating effect.