When it comes to our pets, I don’t know of any responsible pet owner who doesn’t strive to keep their precious fur-babies happy, healthy and safe. We all take our dogs and cats for regular vet checkups and ensure that they are always up to date on their vaccinations. Some of us spend extra money buying top of the line natural dog food or special treats. We take our dogs for long walks for exercise. We put up gates and install invisible fences to keep our pooches in the yard, where you know they’ll be out of harm’s way. But there is one very specific hazard that many people overlook when “pet-proofing” their home…..PLANTS. There are an overwhelming numbers of plants, found indoors and outdoors, that can be harmful or even lethal in some cases to your cat or dog if ingested. Below is a list of the most common plants that can cause great harm to your pet and the symptoms they might experience if they are eaten. It is strongly recommended that pet owners do not have any of these plants inside or outside of their home. On walks where you will be leaving your property, always keep an eye on your dog to ensure that he is not eating any kind of plant. In the unfortunate case that your pet does ingest one of these plants and is experiencing symptoms, the Animal Poison Control Center can be reached 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at (888) 426-4435.
Aloe Vera
Symptoms: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, anorexia, tremors, change in urine color
Amaryllis
Symptoms: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hyper salivation, anorexia, tremors
Autumn Crocus
Symptoms: Oral irritation, bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, multi-organ damage, bone marrow suppression
Azalea/ Rhododendron
Symptoms: Acute digestive upset, excessive drooling, loss of appetite, frequent bowel movements/diarrhea, colic, depression, weakness, loss of coordination, stupor, leg paralysis, weak heart rate and recumbency for 2 or more days; at this point, improvement may be seen or the animal may become comatose and die
Baby’s Breath
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea
Begonia
Symptoms: Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
Birds-of-Paradise
Symptoms: Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting and diarrhea, difficulty swallowing, incoordination
Black Locust Tree
Symptoms: Depression, poor appetite, weakness or paralysis, abdominal pain and diarrhea (which may be bloody), abnormalities in the heart rate and/or rhythm
Buckeye Tree
Symptoms: Severe vomiting and diarrhea, depression or excitement, dilated pupils, coma, convulsions
Buttercup
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia, hyper salivation, wobbly gait
Caladium Plant
Symptoms: Oral irritation, including intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
Carnations
Symptoms: Mild gastrointestinal signs, mild dermatitis
Castor Bean
Symptoms: Abdominal pain, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, weakness and loss of appetite. Severe cases of poisoning can result in dehydration, muscle twitching, tremors, seizures, coma, possible death
Christmas Berry
Symptoms: Hyper salivation, inappetence, severe gastrointestinal upset, including diarrhea, drowsiness, CNS depression, weakness, dilated pupils, slow heart rate
Christmas Rose
Symptoms: Drooling, abdominal pain and diarrhea, colic, depression
Chrysanthemum
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, hyper salivation, dermatitis
Cowslip
Symptoms: Mild vomiting
Cyclamen
Symptoms: Gastrointestinal irritation, including intense vomiting, possible death
Daffodil
Symptoms: Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors, cardiac arrhythmias
Dieffenbachia
Symptoms: Oral irritation, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, burning sensation of the lips, tongue and mouth
Elderberry
Symptoms: Causes a cyanide build-up in the animal’s body
Gladiola
Symptoms: Salivation, vomiting, drooling, lethargy, diarrhea
Holly
Symptoms: Vomiting and diarrhea, depression
Hosta
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression
Hyacinth
Symptoms: Vomiting and diarrhea, dermatitis, other allergic reactions
Iris
Symptoms: Salivation, vomiting and diarrhea, drooling, lethargy
Ivy (California Ivy, Branching Ivy, Glacier Ivy, Needlepoint Ivy, Sweetheart Ivy, English Ivy)
Symptoms: Vomiting, abdominal pain, hyper salivation, diarrhea
Kalanchoe
Symptoms: Gastrointestinal irritation, serious affects to cardiac rhythm and rate of the heart
Laurels
Symptoms: Vomiting and diarrhea, depression, cardiovascular collapse, hyper-salivation, weakness, coma, low blood pressure, death
Lilies
Symptoms: Kidney failure
Marijuana
Symptoms: Depression of the central nervous system and incoordination, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, increased heart rate, seizures, coma
Milkweed
Symptoms: Vomiting, profound depression, weakness, anorexia, and diarrhea are common; may be followed by seizures, difficulty breathing, rapid, weak pulse, dilated pupils, kidney or liver failure, coma, respiratory paralysis, death
Mistletoe
Symptoms: Gastrointestinal disorders, including vomiting and diarrhea, cardiovascular collapse, dyspnea, bradycardia, erratic behavior, low blood pressure (rare)
Morning Glory
Symptoms: Gastrointestinal upset, agitation, tremors, disorientation, ataxia, anorexia, hallucinations
Oleander
Symptoms: Colic, diarrhea (possibly bloody), sweating, incoordination, shallow/difficult breathing, muscle tremors, recumbency, possible death from cardiac failure
Peace Lily (AKA Mauna Loa Peace Lily)
Symptoms: Oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue
Poinsettia
Symptoms: Irritating to the mouth and stomach, sometimes causing mild vomiting
Pothos
Symptoms: Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
Rhubarb
Symptoms: Kidney failure, tremors, salivation
Sago Palm
Symptoms: Vomiting, melena, icterus, increased thirst, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, bruising, coagulopathy, liver damage, liver failure, death
Schefflera
Symptoms: Oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing and intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue
Tomato Plant
Symptoms: Hyper salivation, inappetence, severe gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, drowsiness, CNS depression, confusion, behavioral change, weakness, dilated pupils, slow heart rate
Tulip/Narcissus
Symptoms: Intense gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of appetite, depression of the central nervous system, convulsions, cardiac abnormalities
Wisteria
Symptoms: Vomiting and diarrhea, depression
Yew
Symptoms: Central nervous system effects such as trembling, incoordination, and difficulty breathing; gastrointestinal irritation and cardiac failure, which can result in death
Written by: Randi Tomaszewski, Professional Pet Sitter for Sarah’s Pet Sitting
Sources
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/17-common-poisonous-plants.aspx
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/24-common-plants-poisonous-to-pets.html?page=3
http://www.petside.com/article/common-plants-poisonous-pets
