Being a pet parent requires a keen eye on your surroundings because your pet may surprise you with naughty behavior, like nibbling on plants, without knowing it could be poisonous. One such plant is the “Chinese Lantern.” As the name suggests, this perennial resembles glowing lanterns in late summer and fall. Pets often get attracted to Chinese lanterns, also known as bladder cherry, Japanese lantern, or love in a cage. Pet parents' main concern is whether the plant is poisonous to pets. This blog covers everything, including which parts of the Chinese Lantern plant are poisonous, what to do if pets eat it, and more.
Is Chinese Lantern Plant Poisonous to Dogs?
Chinese lanterns are toxic to dogs because they contain alkaloids and solanine, which can make pets ill. If your pet ingests the plant, closely watch out for symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, or lethargy. On noticing any of these signs, rush to a veterinarian at the earliest.
Which Parts of the Chinese Lantern Plant Are Toxic?
All parts of the Chinese Lantern plant are toxic, so keep it away from kids and pets. The leaves, stems, unripe berries, and paper-shaped husk, it all contain harmful compounds.
What Happens if a Dog Eats Chinese Lantern Plant?
If a dog eats a Chinese Lantern plant, it may show symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, lethargy, and, in some cases, tremors and seizures. Symptoms vary depending on how much of the plant the pet ingests and the pet's immunity.
What Should You Do if Your Dog Eats Chinese Lantern Plant?
If you notice early symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting and you understand that the dogs have consumed the plant, here are the things you should do:
Remove Access to the Plant- The first step is to remove dogs from the plant to ensure they don’t ingest more. Wait a while until you notice symptoms.
Identify What Was Eaten- Check which plant the dog has eaten because identifying the right plant is important for the right diagnosis. Also, when you visit the veterinarian, bring a sample of the plant to help the doctor treat the dog.
Contact a Veterinarian- Take your dog to the doctor as soon as possible, because you never know how severe the issue is.
Are Chinese Lantern Berries Safe for Dogs?
No, Chinese Lantern berries are not safe. Rather, all the parts of the Chinese Lantern plant are poisonous to dogs and not safe at all. The only exception is the ripe fruit of the plant, which is edible, but it should be so ripe that they fall off the plant.
How to Keep Dogs Away From Chinese Lantern Plants?
“Prevention is better than cure.” The best way to avoid any issue is to work on the root cause of the issue. As the Chinese Lantern plant is toxic to dogs, the best way to rule out the chances of dogs eating the plant is to keep them away from the plants. But how? By adopting a simple way of supervision. Another way is to keep the plant out of reach of the pets.
Chinese Lantern Plant vs. Other Physalis Plants
The Physalis genus includes almost 90 species of perennial and annual shrubs, and the Chinese Lantern plant is one of them. However, unlike other species of Physalis, Chinese Lantern is not edible. Here are the differences between other Physalis plants and Chinese Lantern plants.
| Criterion | Physalis | Chinese Lantern |
| Origin | Some species are native to Eastern North America while others are from Central America or Andes | It is native to Europe/Asia |
| Climate | Depending on the species, they grow in temperate summers and frost free climate | It’s a hardy perennial |
| Size | Varies from 2-5 ft. | It grows between 2-3 ft. |
| Growth Habit | Growth habit varies from compact mound to upright, based on the variety of plant | It spreads |
| Flavour | Other varieties of physalis tastes sweet, crisp or lemony | It tastes sweet |
| Use | It is used to make jams, bakes,or for garnishing | It is merely used for ornamental purposes |
| Edible | Yes | No |
| Toxicity to Pets | No | Yes |
Are Chinese Lantern Plants Safe to Grow in a Dog-Friendly Garden?
Chinese Lanterns are not safe to grow in a dog-friendly garden because all the parts of the plant are toxic to pets, be it stems, leaves, or berries.
Conclusion
Chinese Lantern plants are undoubtedly toxic to dogs. However, the severity of the problem can be controlled with proper supervision. Despite all the efforts, if dogs ingest the plant and show symptoms like diarrhea or vomiting, take them to a doctor immediately.