What plants are dangerous for my pet?
Linda Asked:
I heard that Lili’s could kill your cat if injested. Is this true and what other plants are dangerous for pets?
We Found:
Spring is the perfect time to clean up your lawn and spruce it up with some pretty flowers and plants to add texture and bright color to your previously dull winter lawn. As pet owners, however, it is important to be conscious of what plants you put in your yard; some plants and flowers can be very poisonous and harmful to your pet if it is ingested. Although your pet may rarely chew on grass on plants, it is always better to be on the safe side and simply have poisonous plants in your yard in the first place, if you can help it. Here is a non-exhaustive list of some poisonous plants that are popular additions to front lawns:
- Lilies. in cats symptoms might incorporate vomiting, lethargy and loss of appetite.
- Peony plants. Though peonies are highly popular flowers that have decorated yards for decades, they are extremely toxic to dogs. Symptoms of ingestion include: stomach upset, staggering, tremors, seizures, heart failure, death.
- Lantana plants. Defined as tropical shrubs that grow as perennials in Florida, but in cooler climates they are often considered annual flowers. Symptoms of ingestion include: Sluggishness, weakness, bloody diarrhea. In severe cases, death may occur in 2 to 4 days.
- Daffodils. These are highly familiar bright yellow flowers. Symptoms of ingestion include: severe gastrointestinal illness, convulsions, seizures, low blood pressure and tremors.
- Tulips. A favorite flower of many, it comes in many different colors and can grow almost anywhere. Symptoms of ingestion include: intense vomiting, depression, diarrhea, hyper-salivation, drooling and lack of appetite.
- Azaleas. Also highly popular in lawns everywhere. These colorful flowers bloom in Azalea bushes. Symptoms of ingestion include: vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, and in severe cases results can be drastic.
- Chrysanthemums. A popular colorful bloom, this can highly irritate skin.
- Castor bean. These plants are not incredibly common, but they are sometimes used in upper-scale landscaping designs. The seeds of these plants are highly poisonous as they contain toxic ricin. Symptoms of ingestion include: Nausea, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, dehydration, shortness of breath, excessive thirst, weakness, muscle twitching, convulsions, coma.
- Poison Ivy, Poison Sumac, and Poison Oak can cause severe irritation of the mouth, stomach, and intestines if ingested.
- Hyacinth. Another highly popular plant found in yards across the United States, as it is colorful and easy to find in plant nurseries. Symptoms of ingestion include: vomiting, diarrhea, depression and tremors.
- Rhododendron. Symptoms of ingestion include: Vomiting, diarrhea, hyper-salivation, weakness, coma, hypotension, CNS depression, cardiovascular collapse and death.
- Morning Glory. Many people choose to decorate their mailboxes with this climbing flowery vine. Symptoms of ingestion include: hallucination, may cause diarrhea.
- Lily of the Valley. Symptoms of ingestion include: Ataxia, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmias, death.
As our pets are very precious to us, it is important that we keep a close eye on their surroundings…not to mention we are often in charge of those surroundings! Consider what plants are in your yard, and take the time to do the research to find out if they could harm your pet. Remember, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
