Pets are generally curious - sniffing, playing and munching on things. As they loiter around the house for the whole day, they tend to eat items that may be hazardous for them and thus, may result in tragic poisoning.
One of the most common items that pets may ingest are plants. Unfortunately, some plants that are commonly grown inside and outside the house are toxic for pets. Approximately 700 plants have been determined to contain poisonous substances, which levels are enough to lead to hazardous effects on animals' health. Generally, pets that ingest a significant amount of toxic substances from plants may experience mild symptoms such as nausea to severe effects such as death.
Knowing what to keep and what to eliminate in the house garden is vital for the life of pets and the overall surroundings of the house and thus, must be practiced. Here is a list of plants that are poisonous, not only to dogs and cats, but to other pets as well.
Autumn Crocus
Autumn Crocus come in two types: the first one blooms in the spring and the second one during the autumn. The spring plant is the poisonous kind for pets and is said to contain high levels of toxic substances. When ingested, pets may initially experience vomiting and diarrhea then later proceed to pulmonary failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney impairment and liver damage. The clinical manifestations of ingestion may occur promptly or may not appear until after a few days.
Azalea
Azalea belongs to the same family as the rhododendrons. These plant species may cause diarrhea, vomiting and extreme drooling if pets ingest even just a few leaves. Immediate medical attention is warranted as pets may go into a comatose state or worse, die.
Cyclamen
The toxic part of the cyclamen plant is its roots. Though these flowering plants only bloom seasonally, these may cause vomiting and death to pets if ingested.
Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe is a type of flowering plant that may appear to be lush and succulent but can actually cause irregular heartbeat, vomiting and diarrhea for pets.
Lilies
Lilies are probably cats' worst plant enemies as ingestion of only two to three leaves of true lilies may result in severe failure of the kidneys. Prompt medical attention is necessary should cats ingest these poisonous plants. Veterinarians may induce vomiting to rid off the poison during the early stages and intravenous therapy may be warranted to improve health outcomes.
Oleander
Mostly found outdoors, these shrubs contain intricate flowers and evergreen features. Amid its attractive characteristics, oleander may cause slow heart rate, significant vomiting and even death when ingested by pets.
Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia are most commonly found in offices and inside the homes. These plants, however, should not be grown if there are pets because it can cause drooling, nausea, significant irritation of mouth and swallowing impairments.
Daffodils
The plant, bulb and the actual flower of daffodils may pose great health threats to pets as it contain lycorine, a substance that can cause severe vomiting. Aside from that, these plants may result in respiratory depression, irregular heartbeat and gastrointestinal disturbances.
Other common plants than are poisonous to dogs, cats and other pets include:
Aloe vera
Amaryllis
Baby's Breath
Begonia
Castor Bean
Chrysanthemum
Gladiola
Hosta
Milkweed
Morning Glory
Poinsettia
Pothos
Sago Palm
Tomato Plant
Tulips
- Yew
Photo: John Morgan | Flickr
