Pet Corner
Toxic Plants
Common Plant Toxicities Seen in Dogs and Cats
By Kristey Reed, DVM
Early summer is often a time when people choose to “spruce up” their home through landscaping. What most people don’t realize is that a large number of common household plants are extremely toxic to our four legged friends. Most plants come with information on water requirements, how much light they need and what kind of soil they do best in but they don’t provide any information on toxicity. While fencing outdoor plants off so that pets don’t have immediate access and placing plants kept indoors out of reach is a viable option, the safest thing to do is to only plant non-toxic plants. There are a number of times people bring pets into a veterinary clinic who have gotten into something that “was completely out of reach.” In an effort to help pet owners keep their homes and their pets in good shape here are some of the more common toxic plants seen in and around homes in our area.
The following plants have been known to cause liver failure:
Dogs and cats: Sago Palm and Cycads.
The following plants have been known to cause kidney failure:
In cats - Tiger lilies, Easter lilies, Stargazer lilies, Oriental lilies and Day lilies
Ingestion of any part of the lily (from leaves to pollen) can lead to kidney damage.
The following plants have been known to cause cardiac damage:
Dogs and cats: Oleander, Kalanchoe, Foxglove, Yew, Lily of the Valley, and Rhododendron.
The following plants have been known to cause oral irritation and/or gastrointestinal problems:
Dogs and cats: Elephant ears, Iris, Hydrangea, Hyacinth, Holly, Aloe, Azalea, Bird of Paradise, Rhododendron, Tulip, and Yucca.
The following plants have been known cause neurologic signs:
Dogs and cats: Branching Ivy, Buckeye, Lily of the Valley, Morning Glory, Rhododendron and Yucca.
This is by no means a complete list of plants that are toxic to dogs and cats but these are some of the more common toxicities seen and can help give people an idea of just how many plants are toxic to our pets. If your pet is known or suspected of having ingested any of these plants then it is vital that you get them to your veterinarian immediately. Not all of these plants are lethal nor do they all cause the same problems, which is why it is very important to know as much information as possible about what plant was chewed or ingested. Further information on toxic and non-toxic plants can be found on http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/. Some other common things that are toxic to our pets are grapes and raisins, onions and chocolate. It is for this reason that it is best not to feed pets “people food.” There are just some foods that our physiology can handle that theirs can’t. Part of the job of a veterinarian is to educate people about what is safe and healthy for their pets so when in doubt ask your family veterinarian!
