Top Ten Toxic Plants to Pets

Pretty Poisons:  Top Ten Plants Toxic to Pets

Spring has arrived in York County at last!  And all these April and May showers are bringing about lots of spring blooms.  While we all enjoy having flowers in our homes and yards, if you have pets, it is always good to be aware that many plants can be toxic to our four-legged friends.   Below are ten common plant species that can cause serious illness and even death if your cat or dog decides to sample them. 

1.  Azaleas and rhododendrons can be highly toxic to dogs and cats.  Ingestion of leaves causes sudden onset of drooling, diarrhea, vomiting and sometimes weakness, paralysis and even coma.  Make sure your pets do not have access to these common plants.
2.  Begonias can cause oral irritation, drooling and vomiting especially if the tubers (similar to bulbs) are ingested. 
3.  Cyclamen are pretty houseplants, but they can be toxic, especially if the roots are eaten.  Cyclamen ingestion causes vomiting and gastrointestinal upset, but occasional fatalities have been reported. 

4 and 5.  Both daffodils and tulips, whose showy flowers are hallmarks of spring, can be toxic and even fatal to our pets.  Eating the bulbs can cause serious problems such as vomiting, drooling, decreased appetite and may lead to seizures, respiratory distress, arrhythmias, and death.

6.  Lilies of many varieties are extremely toxic to cats and can cause irreversible kidney failure.  Curiously, they are not toxic to dogs.  Please leave them out of your Easter and spring bouquets, especially if you have cats. 
7.  Sago palms are sometimes found as houseplants in this area and are quite toxic. Eating the leaves of the palm can cause vomiting, abnormal clotting, bruising, and sometimes liver failure which may be fatal. 
8.  Milkweed grows wild in York County and some people plant it in butterfly gardens hoping to attract Monarchs, but it can cause serious illness and even death in dogs and cats and can also be fatal to horses, goats and other animals.  Milkweed ingestion causes depression, weakness, vomiting, seizures and even respiratory paralysis. 
9.  Yew is another common toxic plant causing trembling, incoordination, respiratory distress and sometime fatal heart failure.
10. Finally, aloe vera is a common houseplant.  The gel from its leaves can be used to soothe burns and other skin irritations. While the clear gel itself is safe, effective and non-toxic, the leaves also contain a white latex-like layer within the leaves surround the gel that contains a chemical called Anthraquinone c-glycoside which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and a dark coloration to the urine if swallowed.  So, aloe gel and aloe containing products are okay for our pets, but do not allow cats or dogs to eat the leaves of aloe plants.

We hope you will keep this list in mind when purchasing house plants or plants for your flower beds.  If you have any of these plants, please make sure pets don’t have access to them.  If you do suspect your pet has ingested one of these or any other poisonous plants, contact your veterinarian or a poison control hotline immediately.  Often, swift intervention and decontamination can prevent serious toxicity and may save your pet.

This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital, serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

Sources:  www.care2.com