Summertime in New England brings loads of green plants and beautiful blossoms. We wait all year for those plants to come alive again, but not all of them are pet friendly. Summer brings an influx of toxicities to veterinary hospitals. This article will describe some common plants that are toxic to pets and what symptoms you may see if your pet has been exposed.
Lilies
True lilies and daylilies are highly toxic to cats, including all parts of the plant (stem, leaves, flowers, pollen). Even a small amount of pollen on a cat’s fur can cause symptoms. Lilies can cause kidney failure which can be fatal in less than three days. Dogs can tolerate lilies with no adverse effects. If your cat may have been exposed to lilies, it is best to seek veterinary care immediately. The most toxic lilies include Asiatic lilies, daylilies, Easter lilies, stargazer lilies and tiger lilies.
Rhododendron/Azalea
Rhododendron and azaleas are in the same family and contain the same toxin (grayantoxin). This toxin affects the cardiac system and can cause heart failure in cats, dogs and horses. Other symptoms that you may see include vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, difficulty breathing and blue-gray gums.
Lily of the Valley
These little white bell-shaped flowers can pack a punch. They are toxic to dogs, cats and horses. They are also cardiotoxic like the rhododendrons and can cause arrhythmias or an irregular heartbeat. They can also cause low blood pressure, vomiting, seizures and coma.
Foxglove
Foxgloves are used to make a cardiac medication called digitalis. It can be used for arrhythmias and can affect the heart in healthy cats, dogs and horses. We can see arrhythmias, heart failure, weakness and death if ingested.
Sago Palm
In this area, sago palms are often houseplants. They are highly toxic to cats, dogs and horses. Ingestion can cause liver failure/damage, bleeding disorders, vomiting, bruising and death. While these plants are pretty, if you have animals, I would not advise keeping one in the house.
Pothos
Pothos is another common house plant. Because it contains oxalate crystals, it most commonly causes oral irritation. Often, we will see pawing at the mouth, drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. Often rinsing the mouth can help combat the crystals in the plant.
If your pet has ingested a plant and you’re not sure if it is toxic or not, please call ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435) or Pet Poison Helpline (800-213-6680).