If you suspect your pet has ingested any of these plants or any other questionable substance, call Weston Creek Veterinary Hospital for assistance. Accurate and timely identification of the ingested material is very important. Having the container, package, or label will save valuable time and may save your pets life.
If your pet ingests any of the above or any other medications or chemicals in your home please contact Weston Creek Veterinary Hospital immediately to get advice on your best course of action.
While there are a vast number of species of plants and flowers, only a few of these plants are poisonous to your pet. Make sure you check which plants are most deadly and remove them from your backyard or home to avoid your dog or cat from getting into these toxic plants!
This is only a partial list of poisonous plants. For a more complete list of plants poisonous to cats and dogs, visit www.petpoisonhelpline.com.
Sago palms (also called King palms or King Sago palms)
Pets that ingest the leaves, cone or even seeds of the plant can suffer liver damage, liver failure and, in extreme cases, death…due to a toxin called Cycasin that is found in the plant. We typically see pets get sick one-to-two days after ingestion. Usual symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and a pronounced lack of appetite.
In the extreme cases where liver failure does occur, you may see a yellowish, jaundiced appearance to the pet’s skin or the whites of the eyes – showing the result of liver damage.
Pets have been known to eat mushrooms in yards and while on walks. While 99 percent of mushrooms have little or no toxicity, the 1 percent that are highly toxic can cause life-threatening problems in pets. Take extra care to keep pets away from areas where mushrooms might be growing.
Dogs take a special interest in both Amanita phalloides and Inocybe species, possibly because of their fishy odor. Amanita phalloides is well known to be a deadly species, but Inocybe species and the Clitocybe species that also contain muscarine can be lethal to dogs.
A great many dogs die each year from consuming mushrooms containing amatoxins. Although cats rarely consume mushrooms, they are particularly attracted to dried Amanita muscaria and Amanita pantherina, sometimes with lethal results. Symptoms are characterized by a six-to-12 hour delay in symptoms followed by severe GI distress and a refusal to eat or drink.
Cats and Lilies
If you have a cat in your home, use extreme caution when bringing in flowers, bouquets and new plants into your cat-friendly household.
Easter lilies are extremely poisonous to cats, and just one-to-two leaves (and even the pollen) can kill a cat. Even small ingestions can result in severe kidney failure. (Cats are more common lily poisoning victims than dogs, but they are toxic to both.)
The Easter Lily is one of many plants of the Lilium and Hemerocallis species that are very poisonous. Others are commonly known as the Tiger Lily, Stargazer Lily, Day Lily, Asiatic Lily and Japanese Show Lily, and each can cause severe, acute kidney failure in cats.
Signs of poisoning often develop after six hours of exposure, which include vomiting, lack of appetite, lethargy and dehydration. Untreated, signs worsen as acute kidney failure develops, and signs of not urinating or urinating too frequently, not drinking or excessive thirst, and the inflammation of the pancreas may be seen with lily poisoning. Rarer signs include walking drunk, disorientation, tremors, and even seizures.
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When spring is in the air, we all tend to get a little itch (pun intended) to do some gardening. One very popular hobby right now that is trending is the houseplant hobby. The boom in this industry in unknown but could be due to various reasons such as mental and physical wellness, the need to nurture, and feeling connection in a time of a global pandemic. Whatever the reason, the houseplant industry is blossoming (literally) and more and more people are buying them. For pet lovers, this new hobby could need some researching before purchasing. Although as humans we like to reap the benefits of having an indoor garden, we also need to be aware of which houseplants are toxic for our dogs and cats. If you see your pet chewing on these plants or experiencing any of these side effects, see an emergency veterinarian like IndyVet.
Aloe Vera, also known as the medicine plant, is a commonly-owned plant amongst plant enthusiasts. The benefits that aloe has on human skin is widely known. This plant contains antioxidant and antibacterial properties and is also known to treat skin and prevent wrinkles. However, although aloe vera has a wide variety of benefits for humans, it has quite the opposite for pets.
Aloe vera contains purgatives. A purgative is a medicine that promotes bowel movement. The purgatives in aloe vera increase mucus and water in the colon which cause diarrhea and vomiting. Do not allow your pet to chew or ingest this plant. If you are a pet lover and own an aloe vera plant, make sure that the plant is out of reach for your furry friends.
Pothos are another popular house plant. It’s a very easy and low maintenance house plant that many people come to love because of its trailing beauty. This exotic-looking plant can cause irritation to your dog or cat’s mouth or tongue. Pothos contain something called oxalate crystals. These crystals do not dissolve and can cut the tissue in your pet’s mouth or throat if they chew or swallow this plant.
Signs of pothos poisoning can be pawing at the mouth, excessive drooling, trouble swallowing and even respiratory distress. In some cases, pothos can even cause liver damage. Be very careful if you own both a pothos and a pet. If you see these symptoms, make sure to see your veterinarian immediately.
We know. Ivy is so beautiful as it’s trailing around your home but you need to be cautious of this popular plant. There is a naturally occurring steroid found in ivy that can cause skin issues and even gastrointestinal issues for your pet. The steroid is most commonly found in the leaves of this plant. Watch for signs of any skin irritation and if you know that your pet has ingested this plant, see your veterinarian.
Another common houseplant is the lily. While there are a wide variety of lilies on the market, they’re all toxic to your furry family members, cats especially. Lilies can unfortunately be lethally toxic for our felines. Lilies naturally produce a chemical that can cause kidney failure in cats. In fact, the chemical is so toxic that your cat can be in danger if they bite or even lick a lily. Although this particular houseplant is known to be highly toxic for cats, it can also cause stomach and digestive issues for dogs. Symptoms of lily positioning in cats can happen within the first 12 hours of digestion. Be sure to watch for loss an appetite, drooling, vomiting and lethargy. Signs of kidney failure can begin within the first 24 hours of contact.
Houseplants can definitely serve as a relaxing hobby to most, however make sure that you do your research before bringing a plant into a home with a pet. The plants listed in this article are just a few of many houseplants that can potentially cause harm to your cat or dog. As mentioned above, if you do see your pet chewing on these plants or displaying any signs of houseplant poisoning, be sure to contact your emergency vet right away.