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Flowers and plants help to liven up a home as they add a touch of color and many are aesthetically pleasing to look at. Your four legged friends however see something much different. These are curiosities for them and in some cases they may even be mistaken for a quick meal. While most plantlife is safe for pets to be around or to eat there are some species that should be avoided, whether they are in the home or in your garden. Dogs, in particular puppies, are especially susceptible as they are prone to eating anything that moves slower than they do.
Poisonous Plants
Crocus Plants
Two species of Crocus plants are dangerous to animals. The spring crocus (Crocus vernus) if ingested can cause upset stomachs, vomiting and/or diarrhea. While these plants are quite lovely and decorative your pets should be kept away from them. The same can be said for the autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale). These contain colchicine which cause gastrointestinal issues like vomiting and diarrhea as well as internal bleeding, liver and kidney damage and respiratory failure. With the crocus plants some symptoms can also take days to develop (but can also be immediate as well) so if you believe that you pet has eaten a crocus contact your veterinarian immediately.
Azaleas
Azalea plants, commonly found in the United States and Canada, can be deadly. They are extremely decorative flowers and are most famous for decorating Augusta National Golf Course during the Masters Tournament. Ingestion of only a few leaves can cause vomiting, diarrhea or excessive drooling with pets. Their ingestion can also cause your pet to fall into a coma and die even if immediate veterinary attention is had. Azaleas may look pretty but keep your pet away from them!
Lilies
Most if not all species of lilies can also be dangerous, especially to cats. The Peace, Peruvian and Calla Lilies can cause irritation of the mouth or throat which can lead to excess drooling but are not dangerous otherwise. There are some that if ingested can be fatal. The Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter and Japanese Show Lilies (and others) are toxic to cats and can lead to kidney failure. If the cat is taken to a veterinarian quickly an anti-toxic regimen can be introduced and vomiting can be induced so there is a decent chance your pet will survive. These are not to be confused with the Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) which can cause anything from vomiting and diarrhea to a drop in heart rate, cardiac arrhythmias and seizures. For cats, when in doubt, avoid anything with lily in the name.
Daffodils
Daffodils contain an alkaloid called lycorine which can induce vomiting. Ingestion of the plant can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cardiac arrhythmias and respiratory depression. Crystals in the bulbs can cause tissue irritation and drooling.
Tulips and Hyacinths
The bulbs of Tulips and Hyacinths contain allergens or alkaloids that cause irritation in the throat which can lead to excess drooling, vomiting or diarrhea but is typically not fatal in small amounts. If consumed in large quantities they can lead to an increase in heart rate and respiration. Labrador dogs are most affected by this.
Other Common Plants
There are some other common plants that should be kept away from pets. Cyclamens are seasonal flowers native to Mediterranean Europe. If they are eaten it can lead to vomiting or death. Kalanchoes, which are native to tropical Africa, can cause diarrhea, vomiting and heart arrhythmia. Oleander, a plant native to Mediterranean Europe, Africa, Arabia and China, is one of the most poisonous plants commonly found in people’s gardens. Its leaves and flowers are extremely toxic and can cause severe vomiting, a reduced heart rate and death to pets. Dieffenbachia is commonly found in tropical climates in the Americas and can cause irritation in the mouth, drooling, vomiting, nausea along with the reduced ability to swallow. Cats love to chew on these so keep these plants out of their reach and the same goes for philodendrons. Sago Palm trees, which are popular in warmer climates, can cause vomiting, bloody stool, damage to the stomach lining, liver failure or death. The popular Easter flower Amaryllis is poisonous to dogs. Its ingestion can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, excessive drooling, anorexia and tremors.
Holiday Plants
Speaking of the holidays pine needles, while not poisonous, if ingested can cause internal damage to a pet. The popular Christmas flower poinsettia can cause excessive drooling or irritation of the mouth if eaten. Mistletoe can be deadly if your pet swallows even one berry. Holly can cause stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea and Yew can cause muscle weakness and a difficulty breathing which can lead to death. Rhubarb can cause vomiting, drooling, stomach pains, convulsions and kidney damage.
Prevention is Key
There are plenty more plants that should be kept away from pets. For a complete list click this link to see (as well as other things that are poisonous to pets).
Knowing what things are poisonous to your four legged friends can not only help them lead a much happier and healthier life but it can also prevent you from having to deal with the stress of getting them to the pet emergency room or the anguish of dealing with the premature death of a beloved pet. It is up to you, the human, to watch what they are getting themselves into and if you think that they may have come into contact with a poisonous plant it is better to be safe than sorry. Get your pet to your veterinarian as soon as possible. If you have any questions about whether a plant in your home or garden is poisonous speak to your veterinarian about it. They can also give you some possible first aid options like ways to induce vomiting that could help save your pet’s life.
If you do keep poisonous plants in the house keep them in a room that is kept off limits to your pets or hang them in baskets where they cannot be reached. A spray or a repellant can also be used, but curiosity could very well get the better of your pet, especially cats which love to climb. When in doubt it may just be better to remove the plant to begin with.
http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/basics/top-10-plants-poisonous-to-pets/
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants
https://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/emergency/poisonous-plants-to-dogs
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/plants_poisonous_to_pets.html
https://www.thespruce.com/toxic-plants-for-puppy-dogs-2804773
Links for the article
Complete list of poisons for pets – http://petpoisonhelp.wpengine.com/poisons/
People love their animals so much so that they put little clothes on them and necklaces and booties and things like that. And if you love your animal, then you should feed them something that’s not dangerous for them. There’s a lot of poisonous stuff that they’re putting in a lot of that food, those by-products.
— Ellen DeGeneres
