Is Shamrock toxic to dogs?

Soluble oxalate salts are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and bind with the body's calcium, causing a sudden drop in calcium levels and potential acute renal failure.

None of the sources we checked describes a treatment written for shamrock in dogs. Pet Poison Helpline says signs after small amounts may be short-lived or may need some supportive care from a vet. For plants with soluble oxalates, the Merck Veterinary Manual describes this care when a pet ate more than a taste or nibble: the vet makes it vomit and gives one dose of activated charcoal with a laxative, then fluids through an IV line for 24 to 48 hours. If blood calcium drops, the vet gives calcium gluconate through the IV. Kidney values are monitored during a hospital stay, and checked if signs develop. VETgirl adds anti-nausea medicine, blood and urine tests for low calcium, oxalate crystals and kidney injury, and more aggressive treatment for pets that are dehydrated or have chronic kidney failure.

None of the sources we checked gives recovery times or survival figures for dogs that ate shamrock. The ASPCA lists kidney failure as rare in dogs and cats, and VETgirl says kidney injury from soluble oxalate plants is generally thought to be rare. Pet Poison Helpline says these plants typically cause poisoning in livestock that graze on them, and Merck says the drop in blood calcium is not expected after small ingestions. Merck also says exposure to these plants is not common in pets, but life-threatening signs may occur. The ASPCA says shamrocks taste fairly bitter, so most animals won't be tempted to nibble them, though that doesn't mean it never happens.

• Plants sold as shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day. Wisconsin Horticulture, from the University of Wisconsin, says these plants are sold around March in grocery stores, discount stores and floral shops, and that they are species of Oxalis, also called wood sorrels. When the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center gets calls about shamrocks around St. Patrick's Day, the plant is typically Oxalis acetosella, and these plants are often given to families and children for the holiday.
• Houseplants all year. NC State Extension says the Oxalis species most often sold as houseplants are known as shamrocks, including Oxalis acetosella (wood sorrel), Oxalis deppei (iron cross or lucky clover), Oxalis purpurea and Oxalis triangularis (false shamrock or purple shamrock). The ASPCA also lists the names good luck plant and sorrel.
• Look for clover-shaped leaves, most often with 3 or 4 leaflets (some species have up to 9), in green, red or purple, sometimes patterned. The leaflets of many species fold up at night or on overcast days. The flowers have 5 petals, grow on long stalks and can be white, yellow, pink or red.
• Pots that seem to die back. Shamrock plants grow from small bulbs and need a rest period, usually in summer, when the leaves dry out and turn brown. They can also be planted outdoors for the growing season.
• Lawns and gardens. NC State Extension says some Oxalis species are very prolific and considered weeds, such as Oxalis stricta, an aggressive perennial weed with bright yellow flowers. The ASPCA entry covers Oxalis species in general (Oxalis spp.).
• Every part of the plant. NC State Extension says all parts of the plant have toxic potential, although serious effects are usually limited to ingestions of large quantities. The toxins are soluble calcium oxalates.
• Clover is a different plant. Wisconsin Horticulture says the word shamrock comes from an Irish word meaning little clover and generally refers to white clover (Trifolium repens), and that Oxalis is unrelated to clover even though the leaves can look very similar. This guide is about Oxalis, and the sources we checked don't say whether its risks apply to clover.

• Keep shamrock plants where your dog or cat can't reach them, or in a room your pets don't go into. NC State Extension advises keeping Oxalis out of the reach of children and pets.
• If you buy or receive a shamrock for St. Patrick's Day, put it out of your pets' reach straight away. The ASPCA says these plants are often given to families and children for the holiday.
• Don't count on the taste. The ASPCA says shamrocks taste fairly bitter, so most animals won't be tempted to nibble them, but that doesn't mean it never happens.
• When the plant dies back to rest, throw the dead leaves away where your pet can't get them, and keep the resting pot out of reach. Wisconsin Horticulture advises a cool, dark spot for 2 to 3 months, or about a month for purple-leaf types. NC State Extension says all parts of the plant have toxic potential.
• Before you bring a plant home, check the scientific name on its label and look it up in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list. The ASPCA says the common name shamrock can refer to several different plants.