https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/p/29f96989-0775-4d28-bb3a-4780f92179b8/
By Dr. Becker
It’s blooming season, which means it’s time to quickly review which plants are pet-friendly and which ones you should avoid if you have furry family members at home.
Veterinary magazine dvm360 and Dr. Justine Lee have compiled a list of the most common indoor and outdoor plants that are toxic to dogs and cats.1
Top 4 Outdoor Plants Toxic to Pets
1. Sago palm
Sago is a landscape palm commonly found in hot, humid climates. It is also sometimes found indoors as a small bonsai or houseplant. All parts of this palm are poisonous, especially the seeds. Just one to two seeds from a female sago can cause poisoning symptoms in pets.
This plant can damage your dog or cat’s gastrointestinal tract (signs include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea), central nervous system (unsteady gait, tremors, seizures, even coma), and liver (jaundice, black and tarry stools).
Sago is potentially fatal, so if your pet (most often a dog) ingests any part of it, you should seek veterinary care immediately.
Your pet will need to be hospitalized for decontamination (inducing vomiting, which can only be done safely by a veterinarian, and administering activated charcoal to bind the poison), IV fluids, administration of necessary medications, and treatment. support.
2. Lilies
Lilium and Hemerocallis species (called “true” lilies) are deadly to kittens. These include Easter, Tiger, Japanese Show, Stargazer, Rubrum and Daylily.
Just two to three leaves or petals, or even pollen or water from a vase containing the lilies, can cause serious acute renal failure And the dead.
Signs of poisoning include vomiting, lack of appetite, abnormal urination, lethargy and progressive kidney damage. Treatment typically involves a 48-hour hospital stay, aggressive decontamination, anti-vomiting medications, and IV fluids.
With immediate treatment, including aggressive decontamination and IV fluids, the vast majority of cats can survive this type of poisoning.
3. Plants containing cardiac glycosides
This includes aponeurosis, foxglove, milkweed, kalanchoe, lily of the valley and oleander. The good news is that these plants have been instrumental in the development of life-saving heart medications for humans and animals.
The bad news is that accidental ingestion of these substances by a cat or dog can be life-threatening.
Signs of poisoning involve gastrointestinal (GI) tract (drooling, vomiting), cardiovascular system (very slow or fast heart rate, arrhythmia), electrolyte imbalances (e.g., high potassium levels), and central nervous system signs (dilated pupils, tremors, convulsions).
Immediate veterinary intervention is required and will include decontamination, intravenous fluids, heart and blood pressure monitoring, heart medications, and supportive care.
4. Blue-green algae
Blue-green algae poisoning is fortunately rare, but a tiny amount (a few licks) can be fatal. Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, grow above bodies of fresh or brackish water. Generally, algae blooms in warm, humid weather.
Toxins in cyanobacteria can cause severe liver failure and neurological signs and lead to death within hours. Keep your pet away from any water with floating algae, as it is impossible to know if it is deadly without laboratory analysis.
Unfortunately, even with aggressive treatment including IV fluids, blood transfusions, and appropriate medications, the prognosis is poor for animals that consume blue-green algae.
Top 5 Houseplants to Keep Out of Your Pet’s Reach
1. Plants of the Araceae family
These include philodendron, pothos, peace lily, calla lily, dumb cane, arrowhead vine, mother-in-law’s tongue, sweetheart vine, ivy devil, umbrella plant and elephant ear.
They are common houseplants and contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. If your pet chews one, it can cause serious mouth pain. Signs that your dog or cat may have tasted one of these plants include drooling, paws in the mouth, a swollen nose or lips, and sometimes vomiting.
Fortunately, these plants are not considered fatal, so if your pet chews one, give him milk or yogurt to minimize the damage caused by the calcium oxalate crystals. Monitor him closely and if his symptoms do not improve or worsen, call your veterinarian.
2. English clover, rhubarb (leaves) and tropical star fruit
These houseplants contain soluble calcium oxalates, which are very different from insoluble calcium oxalate plants.
Fortunately, pet poisonings involving these plants are rare, but when they do occur, it is a life-threatening emergency because ingestion causes blood calcium levels to drop and can also cause formation of calcium oxalate crystals in the kidneys, causing acute renal failure.
Signs of poisoning include drooling, lack of appetite, vomiting, lethargy, tremors and abnormal urination. If you know or suspect that your pet has ingested any of these plants, call your veterinarian immediately. Blood tests and intravenous (IV) fluids will be needed.
3. Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe plants are absolutely beautiful but unfortunately, they are also absolutely deadly if your dog or cat nibbles on one because they contain cardiac glycosides.
Signs of poisoning include the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (drooling, vomiting), cardiovascular system (very slow or fast heart rate, arrhythmia), electrolyte imbalances (e.g., high potassium levels), and signs of central nervous system (dilated pupils, tremors, convulsions).
Immediate veterinary intervention is required and will include decontamination, intravenous fluids, heart and blood pressure monitoring, heart medications, and supportive care.
4. Corn plant/dragon tree
Corn plants contain saponins, which are antinutrients that interfere with the absorption of essential nutrients. If your pet tastes a corn plant, it may cause dilated pupils, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. This is a much milder type of poisoning than others, but you will still want to keep this plant out of reach of your dog or cat.
5. Spring flowers
Some spring bulbs, including daffodils, hyacinths and tulips, may cause mild vomiting or diarrhea in animals that ingest them. If a massive amount of bulbs are eaten, they can actually cause an obstruction in your pet’s stomach or intestines. Complications can include elevated heart and breathing rates and, much less commonly, low blood pressure and tremors or seizures.
Green vegetables and flowers themselves are generally thought to be safe if your dog or cat nibbles on them: it’s the bulbs that pose the greatest danger. If your pet ingests the ampoules, it will be treated with decontamination, fluid therapy and anti-vomiting medications if necessary.
Remember, even if you only suspect that your pet has sampled a poisonous plant, it is better to be safe than sorry. Contact your veterinarian, the nearest emergency veterinary hospital, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435, or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661.
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