March
Toxic Plants
As we move into the spring season, our thoughts turn green as we think about our gardens and plants. There are many plants that can be dangerous to our pets. The effects can range from mild irritations to sudden death. Here you will find some of the plants which can cause problems for our cats and dogs and the symptoms which may appear. In some cases, only part of a plant is toxic and the amount of exposure, as well as the individual pet, can cause variations in the effect on any particular pet. These lists are by no means exhaustive. If you have any doubt in your mind regarding the toxicity of a particular plant please be sure to research it's effects on pets. If you think your pet has ingested a poisonous plant, take it to your vet immediately.
TOXIC PLANTS FOR DOGS & POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS
Almond: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea Amaryllis: upset stomach, hyperactivity, lethargy, coma, shock, death American Yew: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea Apple (leaves and stem): rapid breathing, shock, dilated pupils, gum inflammation Apple seeds: varied toxic effects Apricot: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea Apricot seeds: varied toxic effects Asparagus Fern: vomiting, abdominal pain, cramps, tremors, heart, respiratory, kidney problems Autumn Crocus: oral irritation, upset stomach, kidney failure, hyperactivity, lethargy, coma, shock, death Avocado seeds: diarrhea, vomiting, labored breathing, death Azalea: weakness, upset stomach, drooling, coma, heart failure, depression Balsam Pear: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea Boxwood: upset stomach, heart failure, excitability or lethargy Buttercup: upset stomach Caladium: upset stomach, oral irritation, asphyxiation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, death Calla Lily: upset stomach, oral irritation, asphyxiation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, death Cherry leaves & stem: shock, gum inflammation, dilated pupils, rapid breathing Christmas Rose: upset stomach, diarrhea, seizures, disorientation Chrysanthemum: skin irritation Cornstalk: upset stomach, labored breathing, drooling Cuban Laurel (Ficus): upset stomach Daffodil (bulb): upset stomach, seizures, weakness, tremors, excitement, lethargy, coma, death Dieffenbachia: upset stomach, oral irritation, asphyxiation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, death Easter Lily: kidney failure, upset stomach, weakness Eggplant (all parts except fruit): upset stomach, heart failure, drooling, lethargy Elephant's Ear: upset stomach, oral irritation, asphyxiation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, death English Ivy: upset stomach, hyperactivity, labored breathing, drooling, fever, increased thirst, dilated pupils, weakness, staggering English Yew: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea Fiddle-Leaf Fig: upset stomach, skin irritation Foxglove: upset stomach, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, lethargy, collapse, heart failure, death Holly Berries: upset stomach, tremors, seizures, loss of balance Hyacinth (bulb): vomiting, diarrhea, death Hydrangea: seizures, dizziness, rapid breathing Iris (root): upset stomach Japanese Plum: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea Jasmine: weakness, seizures, respiratory failure Jessamine: labored breathing, seizures, weakness, respiratory failure Matrimony Vine: varied toxic effects Morning Glory: upset stomach, hallucinations Mushrooms: varied toxic effects Narcissus: upset stomach, hyperactivity, depression, coma, seizures, tremors, weakness, irregular heartbeat, death Oak (acorns): varied toxic effects Oleander: upset stomach, heart failure, excitability or lethargy Onion: upset stomach, anemia Peach: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea Peach seeds: varied toxic effects Peony: upset stomach, tremors, seizures, staggering, loss of balance, depression, collapse, heart failure, death Periwinkle: hallucinogen Philodendron: upset stomach, mouth irritation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, asphyxiation, death Poinsettia: upset stomach, oral irritation Pot Mum: dermatitis Spider Mum: dermatitis Tomato Vine: upset stomach, lethargy, drooling, heart failure, dilated pupils Tulip (bulb): varied toxic effects Umbrella Plant: vomiting, abdominal pain, cramps, tremors, heart, respiratory, kidney problems Virginia Creeper: varied toxic effects Western Yew: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea Wild Cherry: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea
TOXIC PLANTS FOR CATS & POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS
Aloe Vera: diarrhea Amaryllis bulbs: upset stomach, hyperactivity, lethargy, coma, shock, death Apple seeds: rapid breathing, shock, dilated pupils, gum inflammation Apricot seeds, pits: anxiety, breathing difficulty, convulsions, collapse, sudden death Asparagus Fern: vomiting, abdominal pain, cramps, tremors, heart, respiratory, kidney failure Autumn Crocus bulbs: oral irritation, upset stomach, kidney failure, hyperactivity, lethargy, coma, shock, death Avocado fruit, pit: diarrhea, vomiting, labored breathing, death Azalea: weakness, upset stomach, heart failure, depression Baby's breath: varied toxic effects Baneberry: intense mucous membrane irritation and pain, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping abdominal pain Bird of Paradise: vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, cramps Bittersweet berries: abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, weakness, depression, hallucinations, convulsions Bleeding Heart: salivation, breathing difficulty, abdominal pain, collapse, convulsions Boxwood: upset stomach, excitability, lethargy Branching Ivy: mouth and stomach irritation, diarrhea, breathing difficulty, coma death Buckeyes: stomach irritation, excessive salivation, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, staggering, breathing difficulty, coma, death Buddhist Pine: varied toxic effects Buttercup: upset, stomach, varied effects Caladium: upset stomach, oral irritation, asphyxiation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, death Calla Lily bulbs: upset stomach, oral irritation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, death Castor bean seeds: death Ceriman: mouth and throat irritation, salivation, stomach irritation Charming Dieffenbachia: varied toxic effects Cherry: shock, gum inflammation, dilated pupils, rapid breathing, death Chinese evergreen: mouth and throat irritation, salivation, stomach irritation Christmas Rose: upset stomach, diarrhea, seizures, disorientation Chrysanthemum: skin irritation Cineria: varied toxic effects Clematis: vomiting, diarrhea Cordatum: varied toxic effects Cornflower: varied toxic effects Cornstalk plant: upset stomach, labored breathing, other varied effects Croton: mouth irritation, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, coma, death Cuban Laurel: upset stomach, other varied effects Daffodil bulbs: upset stomach, seizures, weakness, tremors, excitement, lethargy, coma, death Daphne: irritation and burning of skin, mouth, throat and stomach Devil's Ivy: upset stomach, mouth irritation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, asphyxiation, death Dieffenbachia: mouth and throat irritation and swelling, salivation, breathing difficulty, stomach irritation Dracaena Palm: varied toxic effects Dragon Tree: varied toxic effects Dumb Cane: mouth and throat irritation and swelling, salivation, breathing difficulty, stomach irritation Easter Lily: kidney failure, upset stomach, weakness Eggplant: upset stomach, heart failure, drooling, lethargy Elaine: varied toxic effects Elderberry: upset stomach, diarrhea Elephant ear: mouth and throat irritation, salivation, stomach irritation Emerald feather: varied toxic effects English Ivy: upset stomach, hyperactivity, labored breathing, fever, increased thirst, staggering Fiddle-leaf fig: upset stomach, skin irritation Florida beauty: varied toxic effects Foxglove: upset stomach, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, lethargy, collapse, heart failure, death Geranium: varied toxic effects German Ivy: poor appetite, weight loss, behavioral changes, scald, liver failure, jaundice, death Giant Dumb Cane: mouth and throat irritation and swelling, salivation, breathing difficulty, stomach irritation Gold Dieffenbachia: varied toxic effects Gold Dust Dracaena: excitement, staggering, coma, convulsions, death Heartland Philodendron: varied toxic effects Hemlock: nervousness, trembling, incoordination, depression, coma, death Holly berries: upset stomach, tremors, seizures loss of balance, death Hurricane Plant bulbs: varied toxic effects Hyacinth bulbs: stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea, death Hydrangea: seizures, dizziness, rapid breathing Indian rubber plant: varied toxic effects Iris: stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea Jack in the pulpit: mouth irritation Japanese show lily: varied toxic effects, acute renal failure, death Jimson weed: increased thirst, lethargy, coma, death Jonquil: upset stomach, hyperactivity, depressions, coma, seizures, tremors, weakness, irregular heartbeat, death Lacy Tree philodendron: varied toxic effects Lantana berries (unripe): heart, lung, kidney, nervous system failure, death Larkspur: upset stomach, excitement, depression, death Lily o the Valley: irregular heart rate, upset stomach, lethargy Madagascar Dragon tree: varied toxic effects Mescal beans: vomiting, diarrhea Mistletoe berries: stomach and intestinal irritation, vomiting, diarrhea Morning Glory: upset stomach, diarrhea, hallucinations Mushrooms: hallucinations Narcissus: upset stomach, hyperactivity, depression, seizures, tremors, irregular heartbeat Nightshade: digestive system failure, varied toxic effects Oleander: upset stomach, heart failure, excitability, lethargy Onion: upset stomach, anemia Oriental Lily: death Peony roots: upset stomach, tremors, seizures, staggering, loss of balance, collapse, heart failure, death Periwinkle: hallucinogen Philodendron: swollen mouth, painful tongue, sore lips Poinsettia: upset stomach, oral irritation, death Poison Ivy: varied toxic effects Poison Oak: varied toxic effects Potato (green growth, sprouts): abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, weakness, depression, hallucination, convulsion Primrose: upset stomach Red Princess: mouth and throat irritation, salivation, stomach irritation Rhubarb leaves: convulsions, coma, death Snow on the Mountain: severe mouth, throat and stomach irritation, diarrhea, abdominal pain Snowdrops bulbs: stomach and intestinal irritation, abdominal pain, abnormal heart rate, death Sweet pea seeds, pods: permanent paralysis, slow and weak pulse, shallow breathing, weakness, convulsions Tiger Lily: death Tobacco: stomach and intestinal irritation, trembling, staggering, weakness, breathing difficulty, collapse, death Tomato plant (green growth): abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, weakness, depression, hallucinations, convulsions Tulip bulbs: varied toxic effects Virginia Creeper: vomiting, diarrhea Wisteria seeds: digestive system upset, diarrhea, vomiting, death Yew (Japanese, English, Western, American): vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, death
So how can we protect our pets from dangerous plants?
* Know the names of all of your plants and educate yourself about the toxicity of plants. There are hundreds of plants that are potentially poisonous to pets.
* Keep indoor plants up off the floor and out of areas accessible to your pets. Hanging planters are ideal deterrents for plant-addicted cats. Or place planters on pedestals or tables no wider than the base of the draining dish -- this gives your cat little to no space to stand on while trying to munch a leaf.
* Cover the soil on each plant with marbles or rocks to prevent your pet from digging in the soil.
* Spray the plants with Bitter Apple, or sprinkle the soil with a substance your pet finds repulsive, such as pepper, Tabasco sauce or citrus.
* Keep your plants in clusters instead of spreading them throughout the house, making them easier to protect. It will also be easier to teach your pet to avoid one or two areas than to teach it to avoid scattered houseplants.
* If, and only if, you catch your pet in the act, spray it with water from a spritzer bottle. Make sure you are a few feet away when you do so, so your pet will associate the unpleasant experience with approaching the plant and not you.
* Provide your cat with some vegetation of his own. There are a number of grass and catnip products available that allow you to grow your own cat plants. Place the plants in an accessible area away from your houseplants and encourage your cat to chew on them. Praise him when he chooses his own planter of grass over your favorite ivy.
* Keep your pets' environment stimulating. Pets often chew on houseplants out of boredom, so provide them with lots of toys.
Of course, you could always invest in some quality artificial plants!
Tux, Mimi's Boston TerrierTux, page 2Tux, page3 Mimi's Calendar Girl TUX Miss March 2000Happy 4th Birthday, Tux! (2001)Happy 5th Birthday, Tux! (2002) Tux's Kitty SistersOreoSmudgeBeachy God Bless AmericaRainbow Bridge 9-11 Season's Greetings from Mimi and her GirlsDogs Love Christmas, TooCats Love Christmas, Too LinksFun StuffAwardsWebRingsHome Please be sure to visit my Guestbook before you leave You may click here to view entries from my first guestbook
Pets Are GemsJANUARY: Happy New YearFEBRUARY: Happy Valentine's Day MARCH: Toxic PlantsHippity Hoppity Happy EasterAPRIL: April Showers Bring…ThunderstormsCaught MAY: The Merry Month of MayJUNE: Basic First AidFirst Aid KitJULY: Have a Fun and Safe 4th of July AUGUST: Vacationing with Your PetsPets Enjoy Celebrating Their Birthdays, Too SEPTEMBER: School DaysOCTOBER: Halloween Safety Tips For Your Pets NOVEMBER: Stuff The Turkey, Not Your Pets, This ThanksgivingDECEMBER: Holiday Hazards Saying GoodbyePoetryRainbow BridgeLiving LoveThe Journey
