Spring is finally here and the flowers are blooming! They are beautiful, but some plants are dangerous for dogs and cats. Whether you’re decorating your house with blooms or letting your pets run outside near the garden, you should understand what types of plants are dangerous for them. Some pets will chew on a plant’s blooms, stems and leaves, or an animal will dig up a bulb to eat it, leading to a poisoning incident. In addition, there are plants that secrete substances that can cause a serious allergic reaction on a pet’s skin, eyes or inside the mouth. Here is a list of some of the most common hazardous plants for pets.
Dangerous Plant 1: Tulips
If you have pets, then you must use caution when choosing plants for your lawns or flowerpots. While tulips are a popular plant for early spring, the bulbs are extremely poisonous to cats and dogs. Your pet may dig up your tulip bulbs, or perhaps, the animal will find a bag of new tulip bulbs stored in your home’s garage. When you suspect that your pet has ingested tulip bulbs, bring the animal to a veterinarian’s office right away for treatment.
Dangerous Plant 2: Azaleas
While azalea bushes aren’t poisonous for some types of farm animals, this plant is dangerous for cats and dogs. A tiny nibble on azalea leaves or stems can lead to a reaction that includes a change in the heart’s rhythms along with a dangerous reduction in blood pressure. Your beloved pet will require immediate specialized treatment to avoid death from a cardiovascular incident.
Dangerous Plant 3: English Ivy
English ivy is a popular indoor houseplant, making it easy for a cat or dog to ingest its stems or leaves. When a pet eats this plant, the animal will have excess salivation along with nausea, abdominal pain or diarrhea. Your dog will need treatment from the animal’s veterinarian.
Dangerous Plant 4: Chrysanthemum
When your cat or dog comes into contact with a chrysanthemum plant, the animal may begin to drool excessively. The flowers, leaves or stems of this plant can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, requiring emergency treatment at your pet’s veterinarian clinic.
Dangerous Plant 5: Sago Palm
The sago palm is a large outdoor plant that many property owners grow to create an attractive element on a lawn. If a cat or dog chews on or eats the leaves or nuts from this plant, then it is a dangerous situation. The toxins from this plant can destroy the liver, and when a pet’s liver isn’t functioning, an animal could die. Bring your pet to an emergency veterinarian’s hospital for treatment immediately for this type of poisoning.
Not sure which plants are in your yard or local park? You can see a list of plants that are dangerous for pets along with photos on the ASPCA website.
