Plants Poisonous to Pets

Spring has sprung here in Houston!  Many of you have grand plans for re-landscaping, especially after Harvey left most of our gardens and yards with much to be desired.  But before you start planting, do a little research to find out what kind of dangers might be lurking in your yard.  Many beautiful plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees pose a harmful, and even fatal, threat to our pets.

   

Most of us know to avoid sago palms and lilies, but did you also know aloe vera, azaleas, and English ivy pose a threat to animals?  How about daffodils and tulips?  And elephant ears, wisteria, and tomato plants?  In fact, there are reports of over 700 plants that have been identified as toxic or harmful to pets.  It is highly recommended you learn what not to plant in your own yard and to familiarize yourself with many of the toxic plants you might encounter at parks, along your walk route, even your neighbor’s yard!  If your dog or cat doesn’t seem interested in chewing on plants or foliage, still do your homework.  Various plants have different levels of toxicity.  Be sure you make an informed decision before planting something dangerous.  Know what dangers to avoid when you are out and about with your pet, and keep them safe. 

 

While this is not a complete list, we’ve included many popular plants, flowers, and shrubs to help you:

 

Scientific Name: Aloe vera

Family: Liliaceae

Toxicity:  Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Saponins, anthraquinones

Clinical Signs: Vomiting (not horses), depression, diarrhea, anorexia.  The gel is considered edible.

 

Additional Common Names: Many, including: Belladonna lily, Saint Joseph lily, Cape Belladonna, Naked Lady

Scientific Name: Amaryllis sp.

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Toxicity:  Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Lycorine and others

Clinical Signs: vomiting (not horses), depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia, tremors.

 

Additional Common Names: Rosebay, Rhododendron

Scientific Name: Rhododendron spp

Family: Ericaceae

Where Found: About 250 different species; geographic distribution varies with species.

Toxicity: Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Grayantoxin

Clinical Signs: Vomiting (not in horses), diarrhea, weakness, cardiac failure.

 

Additional Common Names: Over 1,000 species and 10,000 hybrids

Scientific Name: Begonia spp.

Family: Begoniaceae

Toxicity:  Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Insoluble oxalates

Clinical Signs: Kidney failure (in grazing animals), vomiting, salivation in dogs/cats. Most toxic part is underground.

 

Additional Common Names: English Ivy, Glacier Ivy, Needlepoint Ivy, Sweetheart Ivy, California Ivy

Scientific Name: Hedera helix

Family: Araliaceae

Toxicity: Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Triterpenoid saponins (hederagenin)

Clinical Signs: Vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, diarrhea. Foliage is more toxic than berries

 

Additional Common Names: Butter Cress, Figwort

Scientific Name: Ranunculus sp.

Family: Ranunculaceae

Toxicity: Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Protoanemonin (an irritant)

Clinical Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, oral ulcers, and wobbly gait.

 

Additional Common Names: Malanga, Elephant's Ears, Stoplight, Seagull, Mother-in-law Plant, Pink Cloud, Texas Wonder, Angel-Wings, Exposition, Candidum, Fancy-leaved Caladium

Scientific Name: Caladium hortulanum

Family:  Araceae

Toxicity:  Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles:  Insoluble calcium oxalates

Clinical Signs: Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not in horses), difficulty swallowing.

 

Additional Common Names: Calla Lily, Pig Lily, White Arum, Trumpet Lily, Florist's Calla, Garden Calla, Arum Lily

Scientific Name: Zantedeschia aethiopica

Family: Araceae

Toxicity: Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats

Toxic Principles: Insoluble calcium oxalates

Clinical Signs: Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing

 

Additional Common Names: Daisy, Mum; many varieties

Scientific Name: Chrysanthemum spp.

Family: Compositae

Toxicity: Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Sesquiterpene, lactones, pyrethrins and other potential irritants

Clinical Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, incoordination, dermatitis

 

Additional Common Names: Narcissus, Jonquil, Paper White

Scientific Name: Narcissus spp

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Toxicity:  Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Lycorine and other alkaloids

Clinical Signs: Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias. Bulbs are the most poisonous part.

 

Additional Common Names: Many varieties

Scientific Name: Dahlia species

Family: Compositae

Toxicity: Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Unknown

Clinical Signs: Mild gastrointestinal signs, mild dermatitis

 

Additional Common Names: Chrysanthemum, Mum

Scientific Name: Chrysanthemum species

Family: Compositae

Toxicity: Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats

Toxic Principles: Sesquiterpene, lactones, pyrethrins and other potential irritants

Clinical Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, incoordination, dermatitis

 

Additional Common Names: Caladium, Malanga

Scientific Name: Colocasia esculenta

Family: Araceae

Toxicity:  Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Insoluble calcium oxalates

Clinical Signs: Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty swallowing

 

Additional Common Names: Cape Jasmine

Scientific Name: Gardenia jasminoides

Family: Rubiaceae

Toxicity: Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Genioposide, gardenoside

Clinical Signs: Mild vomiting and/or diarrhea, hives.

 

Additional Common Names: Many cultivars

Scientific Name: Pelargonium species

Family: Geraniaceae

Toxicity:  Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Geraniol, linalool

Clinical Signs: Vomiting, anorexia, depression, dermatitis

 

Additional Common Names: Many cultivars

Scientific Name: Gladiolus species

Family: Iridaceae

Toxicity: Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Unknown

Clinical Signs: Salivation, vomiting, drooling, lethargy, diarrhea. Highest concentration in corms (bulbs).

 

Scientific Name: Hyacinthus orientalis

Family: Liliaceae

Toxicity: Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Possibly narcissus-like alkaloids

Clinical Signs: Intense vomiting, diarrhea, occassionally with blood, depression and tremors.

 

Additional Common Names: Hortensia, Hills of Snow, Seven Bark

Scientific Name: Hydrangea arborescens

Family: Hydrangeaceae

Toxicity: Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Cyanogenic glycoside

Clinical Signs: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea. Cyanide intoxication is rare – usually produces more of a gastrointestinal disturbance.

 

Additional Common Names: Flag, Snake Lily, Water Flag

Scientific Name: Iris species

Family: Iridaceae

Toxicity: Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Pentacylic terpenoids (zeorin, missourin and missouriensin)

Clinical Signs: Salivation, vomiting, drooling,lethargy, diarrhea. Highest concentration in rhizomes.

 

Scientific Name: Lilium species

Family: Liliaceae

Toxicity: Toxic to Cats Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Horses

Non-Toxicity:

Toxic Principles: Unknown

Clinical Signs: Cats: kidney failure.

 

Scientific Name: Convallaria majalis

Family: Liliaceae

Toxicity: Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Cardenolides (convallarin, and others)

Clinical Signs: Vomiting, irregular heart beat, low blood pressure, disorientation, coma, seizures

 

Scientific Name: Ipomoea spp

Family: Convolvulaceae

Toxicity:  Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Indole alkaloids

Clinical Signs: Vomiting, large amounts of seeds may cause hallucinations

 

Additional Common Names: Rose-Bay

Scientific Name: Nerium oleander

Family: Apocynaceae

Toxicity: Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Cardiac glycosides

Clinical Signs: Drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea, colic, depression, death

 

Additional Common Names: Coontie Palm, Cardboard Palm, cycads and zamias

Scientific Name: Cycas revoluta, zamia species

Family: Cycadaceae

Toxicity: Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Cycasin

Clinical Signs: Vomiting, melena, icterus, increased thirst, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, bruising, coagulopathy, liver damage, liver failure, death.

 

Scientific Name: Lycopersicon spp

Family: Solanaceae

Toxicity:  Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Solanine

Clinical Signs: Hypersalivation, inappetence, severe gastrointestinal upset, depression, weakness, dilated pupils, slow heart rate; ripe fruit is non-toxic

 

Scientific Name: Tulipa species

Family: Liliaceae

Toxicity: Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Tulipalin A and B

Clinical Signs: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, hypersalivation. Highest concentration of toxin in bulb.

 

Scientific Name: wisteria species

Family: Fabaceae

Toxicity: Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Horses

Toxic Principles: Lectin, wisterin glycoside

Clinical Signs: Vomiting (sometimes with blood), diarrhea, depression