As we move into the spring season, our thoughts turn green as we think about our gardens and plants. There are many plants that can be dangerous to our pets. The effects can range from mild irritations to sudden death. Here you will find some of the plants which can cause problems for our cats and dogs and the symptoms which may appear. In some cases, only part of a plant is toxic and the amount of exposure, as well as the individual pet, can cause variations in the effect on any particular pet. These lists are by no means exhaustive. If you have any doubt in your mind regarding the toxicity of a particular plant please be sure to research it's effects on pets. If you think your pet has ingested a poisonous plant, take it to your vet immediately.
TOXIC PLANTS FOR DOGS & POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS
Almond: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea
Amaryllis: upset stomach, hyperactivity, lethargy, coma, shock, death
American Yew: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea
Apple (leaves and stem): rapid breathing, shock, dilated pupils, gum inflammation
Apple seeds: varied toxic effects
Apricot: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea
Apricot seeds: varied toxic effects
Asparagus Fern: vomiting, abdominal pain, cramps, tremors, heart, respiratory, kidney problems
Autumn Crocus: oral irritation, upset stomach, kidney failure, hyperactivity, lethargy, coma, shock, death
Avocado seeds: diarrhea, vomiting, labored breathing, death
Azalea: weakness, upset stomach, drooling, coma, heart failure, depression
Balsam Pear: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea
Boxwood: upset stomach, heart failure, excitability or lethargy
Buttercup: upset stomach
Caladium: upset stomach, oral irritation, asphyxiation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, death
Calla Lily: upset stomach, oral irritation, asphyxiation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, death
Cherry leaves & stem: shock, gum inflammation, dilated pupils, rapid breathing
Christmas Rose: upset stomach, diarrhea, seizures, disorientation
Chrysanthemum: skin irritation
Cornstalk: upset stomach, labored breathing, drooling
Cuban Laurel (Ficus): upset stomach
Daffodil (bulb): upset stomach, seizures, weakness, tremors, excitement, lethargy, coma, death
Dieffenbachia: upset stomach, oral irritation, asphyxiation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, death
Easter Lily: kidney failure, upset stomach, weakness
Eggplant (all parts except fruit): upset stomach, heart failure, drooling, lethargy
Elephant's Ear: upset stomach, oral irritation, asphyxiation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, death
English Ivy: upset stomach, hyperactivity, labored breathing, drooling, fever, increased thirst, dilated pupils, weakness, staggering
English Yew: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea
Fiddle-Leaf Fig: upset stomach, skin irritation
Foxglove: upset stomach, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, lethargy, collapse, heart failure, death
Holly Berries: upset stomach, tremors, seizures, loss of balance
Hyacinth (bulb): vomiting, diarrhea, death
Hydrangea: seizures, dizziness, rapid breathing
Iris (root): upset stomach
Japanese Plum: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea
Jasmine: weakness, seizures, respiratory failure
Jessamine: labored breathing, seizures, weakness, respiratory failure
Matrimony Vine: varied toxic effects
Morning Glory: upset stomach, hallucinations
Mushrooms: varied toxic effects
Narcissus: upset stomach, hyperactivity, depression, coma, seizures, tremors, weakness, irregular heartbeat, death
Oak (acorns): varied toxic effects
Oleander: upset stomach, heart failure, excitability or lethargy
Onion: upset stomach, anemia
Peach: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea
Peach seeds: varied toxic effects
Peony: upset stomach, tremors, seizures, staggering, loss of balance, depression, collapse, heart failure, death
Periwinkle: hallucinogen
Philodendron: upset stomach, mouth irritation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, asphyxiation, death
Poinsettia: upset stomach, oral irritation
Pot Mum: dermatitis
Spider Mum: dermatitis
Tomato Vine: upset stomach, lethargy, drooling, heart failure, dilated pupils
Tulip (bulb): varied toxic effects
Umbrella Plant: vomiting, abdominal pain, cramps, tremors, heart, respiratory, kidney problems
Virginia Creeper: varied toxic effects
Western Yew: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea
Wild Cherry: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea
TOXIC PLANTS FOR CATS & POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS
Aloe Vera: diarrhea
Amaryllis bulbs: upset stomach, hyperactivity, lethargy, coma, shock, death
Apple seeds: rapid breathing, shock, dilated pupils, gum inflammation
Apricot seeds, pits: anxiety, breathing difficulty, convulsions, collapse, sudden death
Asparagus Fern: vomiting, abdominal pain, cramps, tremors, heart, respiratory, kidney failure
Autumn Crocus bulbs: oral irritation, upset stomach, kidney failure, hyperactivity, lethargy, coma, shock, death
Avocado fruit, pit: diarrhea, vomiting, labored breathing, death
Azalea: weakness, upset stomach, heart failure, depression
Baby's breath: varied toxic effects
Baneberry: intense mucous membrane irritation and pain, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping abdominal pain
Bird of Paradise: vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, cramps
Bittersweet berries: abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, weakness, depression, hallucinations, convulsions
Bleeding Heart: salivation, breathing difficulty, abdominal pain, collapse, convulsions
Boxwood: upset stomach, excitability, lethargy
Branching Ivy: mouth and stomach irritation, diarrhea, breathing difficulty, coma death
Buckeyes: stomach irritation, excessive salivation, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, staggering, breathing difficulty, coma, death
Buddhist Pine: varied toxic effects
Buttercup: upset, stomach, varied effects
Caladium: upset stomach, oral irritation, asphyxiation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, death
Calla Lily bulbs: upset stomach, oral irritation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, death
Castor bean seeds: death
Ceriman: mouth and throat irritation, salivation, stomach irritation
Charming Dieffenbachia: varied toxic effects
Cherry: shock, gum inflammation, dilated pupils, rapid breathing, death
Chinese evergreen: mouth and throat irritation, salivation, stomach irritation
Christmas Rose: upset stomach, diarrhea, seizures, disorientation
Chrysanthemum: skin irritation
Cineria: varied toxic effects
Clematis: vomiting, diarrhea
Cordatum: varied toxic effects
Cornflower: varied toxic effects
Cornstalk plant: upset stomach, labored breathing, other varied effects
Croton: mouth irritation, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, coma, death
Cuban Laurel: upset stomach, other varied effects
Daffodil bulbs: upset stomach, seizures, weakness, tremors, excitement, lethargy, coma, death
Daphne: irritation and burning of skin, mouth, throat and stomach
Devil's Ivy: upset stomach, mouth irritation, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, asphyxiation, death
Dieffenbachia: mouth and throat irritation and swelling, salivation, breathing difficulty, stomach irritation
Dracaena Palm: varied toxic effects
Dragon Tree: varied toxic effects
Dumb Cane: mouth and throat irritation and swelling, salivation, breathing difficulty, stomach irritation
Easter Lily: kidney failure, upset stomach, weakness
Eggplant: upset stomach, heart failure, drooling, lethargy
Elaine: varied toxic effects
Elderberry: upset stomach, diarrhea
Elephant ear: mouth and throat irritation, salivation, stomach irritation
Emerald feather: varied toxic effects
English Ivy: upset stomach, hyperactivity, labored breathing, fever, increased thirst, staggering
Fiddle-leaf fig: upset stomach, skin irritation
Florida beauty: varied toxic effects
Foxglove: upset stomach, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, lethargy, collapse, heart failure, death
Geranium: varied toxic effects
German Ivy: poor appetite, weight loss, behavioral changes, scald, liver failure, jaundice, death
Giant Dumb Cane: mouth and throat irritation and swelling, salivation, breathing difficulty, stomach irritation
Gold Dieffenbachia: varied toxic effects
Gold Dust Dracaena: excitement, staggering, coma, convulsions, death
Heartland Philodendron: varied toxic effects
Hemlock: nervousness, trembling, incoordination, depression, coma, death
Holly berries: upset stomach, tremors, seizures loss of balance, death
Hurricane Plant bulbs: varied toxic effects
Hyacinth bulbs: stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea, death
Hydrangea: seizures, dizziness, rapid breathing
Indian rubber plant: varied toxic effects
Iris: stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea
Jack in the pulpit: mouth irritation
Japanese show lily: varied toxic effects, acute renal failure, death
Jimson weed: increased thirst, lethargy, coma, death
Jonquil: upset stomach, hyperactivity, depressions, coma, seizures, tremors, weakness, irregular heartbeat, death
Lacy Tree philodendron: varied toxic effects
Lantana berries (unripe): heart, lung, kidney, nervous system failure, death
Larkspur: upset stomach, excitement, depression, death
Lily o the Valley: irregular heart rate, upset stomach, lethargy
Madagascar Dragon tree: varied toxic effects
Mescal beans: vomiting, diarrhea
Mistletoe berries: stomach and intestinal irritation, vomiting, diarrhea
Morning Glory: upset stomach, diarrhea, hallucinations
Mushrooms: hallucinations
Narcissus: upset stomach, hyperactivity, depression, seizures, tremors, irregular heartbeat
Nightshade: digestive system failure, varied toxic effects
Oleander: upset stomach, heart failure, excitability, lethargy
Onion: upset stomach, anemia
Oriental Lily: death
Peony roots: upset stomach, tremors, seizures, staggering, loss of balance, collapse, heart failure, death
Periwinkle: hallucinogen
Philodendron: swollen mouth, painful tongue, sore lips
Poinsettia: upset stomach, oral irritation, death
Poison Ivy: varied toxic effects
Poison Oak: varied toxic effects
Potato (green growth, sprouts): abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, weakness, depression, hallucination, convulsion
Primrose: upset stomach
Red Princess: mouth and throat irritation, salivation, stomach irritation
Rhubarb leaves: convulsions, coma, death
Snow on the Mountain: severe mouth, throat and stomach irritation, diarrhea, abdominal pain
Snowdrops bulbs: stomach and intestinal irritation, abdominal pain, abnormal heart rate, death
Sweet pea seeds, pods: permanent paralysis, slow and weak pulse, shallow breathing, weakness, convulsions
Tiger Lily: death
Tobacco: stomach and intestinal irritation, trembling, staggering, weakness, breathing difficulty, collapse, death
Tomato plant (green growth): abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, weakness, depression, hallucinations, convulsions
Tulip bulbs: varied toxic effects
Virginia Creeper: vomiting, diarrhea
Wisteria seeds: digestive system upset, diarrhea, vomiting, death
Yew (Japanese, English, Western, American): vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, death
So how can we protect our pets from dangerous plants?
* Know the names of all of your plants and educate yourself about the toxicity of plants. There are hundreds of plants that are potentially poisonous to pets.
* Keep indoor plants up off the floor and out of areas accessible to your pets. Hanging planters are ideal deterrents for plant-addicted cats. Or place planters on pedestals or tables no wider than the base of the draining dish -- this gives your cat little to no space to stand on while trying to munch a leaf.
* Cover the soil on each plant with marbles or rocks to prevent your pet from digging in the soil.
* Spray the plants with Bitter Apple, or sprinkle the soil with a substance your pet finds repulsive, such as pepper, Tabasco sauce or citrus.
* Keep your plants in clusters instead of spreading them throughout the house, making them easier to protect. It will also be easier to teach your pet to avoid one or two areas than to teach it to avoid scattered houseplants.
* If, and only if, you catch your pet in the act, spray it with water from a spritzer bottle. Make sure you are a few feet away when you do so, so your pet will associate the unpleasant experience with approaching the plant and not you.
* Provide your cat with some vegetation of his own. There are a number of grass and catnip products available that allow you to grow your own cat plants. Place the plants in an accessible area away from your houseplants and encourage your cat to chew on them. Praise him when he chooses his own planter of grass over your favorite ivy.
* Keep your pets' environment stimulating. Pets often chew on houseplants out of boredom, so provide them with lots of toys.
Of course, you could always invest in some quality artificial plants!
