10 Toxic plants to keep away from your pets

Did you know some plants can be toxic for your pets?

If not, it might be a bit of a shock to find that a lot of plants are actually toxic to pets, particularly cats and dogs. 

In mild cases, toxic plants can cause rashes and inflammation of the skin and mouth, but in more serious cases, they can cause intense gastrointestinal pain, vomiting, convulsions, spasms and damage to important organs, like the kidney and heart, leading to death.

At Doncaster Vet Hospital, we know you love your pet. They’re so much more than just an animal: they’re a beloved member of the family. To help you keep them safe, here are 10 plants to remove from your home because they can be toxic for your cat or dog.

And remember: if in doubt, always seek medical attention!

Poisonous plants for dogs

Aloe vera

Aloe vera is poisonous for both dogs and cats, with mild to moderate impacts. This common house and backyard plant, when ingested, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, changes in urine colour, depression, anorexia, and in rare cases, tremors.

Azalea
While beautiful, all parts of azaleas are considered poisonous to your pet. Your pet only needs to ingest as little as 0.2% of its weight to cause serious poisoning. Impacts include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, abnormal heart rate, heart arrhythmias, muscle weakness, hypotension, tremors and seizures.

Sago palm
This spectacular plant can be found in and outside the home--but it’s actually toxic to all pets, including cats and dogs. While chewing on the leaves and bark will cause milder impacts, ingestion of the seeds is quite serious, as they contain the highest amount of toxins. Impacts include vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, liver failure and death.

Tulips
With their stunning, bright and colourful flowers, tulips are definitely a favourite in the floral world. But if you own a dog, you should definitely avoid them. Ingesting or chewing on leaves will cause gastrointestinal issues, but ingesting the bulbs, where the highest concentration of toxins are found, can be incredibly harmful to your dog. Symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, excessive drooling, diarrhea, abdominal pains, difficulty breathing and cardiac arrhythmias.

Tomato plants

It may be a backyard favourite, but if your dog (or cat) ingests the green parts of a tomato plant, which contain a toxin called solanine, it can cause weakness, gastrointestinal problems, drowsiness, slow heart rate, confusion and dilated pupils. Thankfully, a rather large amount of this needs to be consumed, but it’s best to keep an eye out and remove your pet’s access altogether.

Poisonous plants for cats

Lilies

Lilies are incredibly poisonous to cats. Even the smallest amount can prove to be fatal, especially for kittens. All parts of this plant are considered toxic and poisonous for your cat (and will cause an upset stomach for your dog). Most lilies are poisonous for your cat, including, peace lilies, calla lilies, Easter lilies, tiger lilies, Japanese show lilies and more. Signs of poisoning include lethargy, depression, vomiting and, if untreated, acute kidney injury, renal failure, and death.

Ivy

Ivy, including English ivy and devil’s ivy, is moderately toxic to pets. As a common hanging houseplant, it might be particularly interesting to your cat and an attractive play object. But it can cause mouth and stomach irritation, foaming and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, excessive drooling, dermatitis, rashes and ataxia.

Daffodils

Daffodils contain lycorine, an alkaloid that triggers vomiting in both cats and dogs. It can have moderate to severe impacts for your cat or dog, with ingestion of the bulb, plant or flower causing severe vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cardiac arrhythmias, respiratory depression and more.

Asparagus fern
Also known as emerald feather or lace fern, the asparagus fern is toxic to both cats and dogs. It contains a toxic agent called sapogenin, which can have mild to moderate impacts on your pet, including skin inflammation, dermatitis, drooling, diarrhea, abdominal pains and vomiting.

Monstera deliciosa
Also known as the “swiss cheese plant” for its interesting leaf pattern, monstera deliciosa contains insoluble calcium oxalates, which can be highly toxic to cats. The common, trendy houseplant might look great, but it can cause burning of mouth and lips, excessive drooling, oral swelling and vomiting for your feline friend: so it’s best to avoid this if you own a cat!

There are hundreds of plants, herbs and flowers that are toxic for your pets, so remember to do your research before purchasing a new plant, and be vigilant with gifted flowers.

If your pet is showing any symptoms of poisoning, take them to the vet immediately. If you can take a part of the plant your pet ingested, it will help with quick identification, and allow the vet to help your furry friend as fast as possible.

Want to check if your houseplants are toxic to your pet? Give us a call!