Toxic Plants Your Pets Should Avoid | DocuPet (2024)

Lillies:

There are several kinds of lilies, with varying degrees of toxicity that should be avoided by all your pets, especially your feline friends.

High toxicity (star lily, glory lily, lily of the valley)

• Kidney failure (swollen abdomen – fluid retention, unusual urination – marked increase or decrease)
• Liver failure (abdominal pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, swollen abdomen, vomiting, yellow skin and eyes)
• Shock
• Death

Moderate toxicity (calla lily, peace lily)

• Bad breath
• Diarrhea
• Dehydration (dark urine, depression, dry skin, extreme thirst, loss of skin elasticity, reduced urination, sleepiness, sunken eyes)
• Excessive drooling
• Seizures

Low toxicity (crinum lily, rain lily)

• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Redness of the eyes, mouth, and tongue
• Vomiting

Daffodils:

Daffodils are some of the first blooms of the season. They signal spring and arrive just as animals are starting to spend more time outside. The part of the Daffodil that is poisonous to dogs is the bulb because it contains Lycorine and other alkaloids. Be careful in the fall when the bulbs are planted as ingesting the bulbs can cause:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Convulsions
• Low blood pressure
• Cardiac arrhythmia

Azaleas:

Sometimes know as rhododendron, these plants contain a chemical called grayanotoxin that is toxic for both cats and dogs. If your pet ingests Azaleas it can cause:

• Oral irritation
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Muscle weakness
• Sudden collapse
• Death

Hostas:

Hostas are popular for being a low-maintenance plant. They grow fast and require very little attention. But if you have a pet you will have to pay attention to them around your Hostas. The toxins glycoside saponins are what make Hostas poisonous for pets. It can cause:

• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Bloating
• Twisting of intestines
• Distress
• Loss of appetite
• Abnormal heartbeat

Black Walnuts:

This tree is easy to spot because the ground below will be covered in ping-pong-ball-sized green and brown fruit. The tree and the nuts themselves are not poisonous to your pets, but the mould that grows on the decomposing nuts is a neurotoxin that is dangerous for dogs who might be enticed to try these delicious looking nuts scattered all over the ground. The symptoms of pets that have eaten Black Walnuts include:

• Irregular breathing
• Excess drooling
• Vomiting
• Incoordination
• Tremors in the muscles
• Fever
• Seizures
• Liver damage

Grapes (raisins) and Currents:

The exact chemicals in raisins that make pets sick are unknown, but they are toxic to both dogs and cats whether they come dried in a box or fresh off a grapevine in the backyard. Symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Bloating
• Twisting of intestines
• Distress
• Loss of appetite
• Kidney failure (If ingested in large quantities)

Tomato Plants:

Eating a ripe tomato will not harm your dog but eating a green tomato or the plant it grows on can be toxic to cats and dogs. The toxic principle is called Solanine and it can cause these symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Seizures
• Gastrointestinal upset
• Depression
• Weakness
• Slowed heart rate

Rhubarb:

The leaves of the rhubarb plant contain dangerously high levels of oxalic acid. Oxalic acid can cause serious kidney damage to pets and humans! If your pet does get into a rhubarb plant, keep an eye out for these symptoms:

• Dehydration (dark urine, depression, dry skin, extreme thirst, loss of skin elasticity, reduced urination, sleepiness, sunken eyes)
• Seizures
• Staggering
• Lack of appetite
• Drooling
• Increased respiratory rate
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Coma

Garlic/Chives/Onions:

These plants are members of the Allium family (also includes shallots, leeks, chives and rakkyo) and dogs and cats cannot digest these plants the same way humans can. When your pets ingest plants from the Allium family it causes hemolytic anaemia and gastrointestinal swelling. If your dog licks off a garlic-y plate they will most likely be okay, but it’s worth noting that studies have found that onions can be toxic if your pet ingests 0.5% of their body weight. Since garlic is more concentrated than onion, even less can cause toxicity. Symptoms can take up to two days to show and include:

• Breathlessness
• Lethargy
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Pale gums
• Elevated heart rate
• Increased respiratory rate
• Weakness
• Collapse

Oleander:

These flowery indoor shrubs are toxic for humans and pets alike. The plant contains Cardiac glycosides that can cause:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Mouth irritation
• Drooling
• Dilated pupils
• Elevated heart rate
• Increased respiratory rate
• Weakness
• Collapse
• Death

Aloe:

It is great for treating a human’s sunburn, but if a curious pet tries to nibble at one of the plant’s gooey leaves it can be harmful. The toxic compound in aloe is saponins – it can cause these symptoms:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Depression
• Tremors
• Change in urine color

Succulents:

Succulents are a beautiful alternative to leafy plants that your furry housemate might want to chew on, but there are a few succulents that can dangerous for your pets. Some of the most common succulents are dangerous for your pets. These include the Panda Plant, the Jade plant (pictured on the left), the Snake Plant and the Kalanchoe which can cause these symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Drooling
• Diarrhea
• Depression
• Incoordination
• Slowed heart rate

Try these succulents instead:

• Hens-and-chicks
• Ponytail Palm
• Burro’s tail
• Christmas cactus

Philodendron:

Philodendron is in the Araceae family, many of which are toxic to cats and dogs because they contain insoluble calcium oxalates that can irritate your pet’s mouth if they chow down on your plant. The most common Philodendrons is known as Heart Shaped Philodendron.

Poinsettia:

Christmas is the time for these colorful plants. The bright colors might look delicious for your pets but the sap of this plant can be irritating for your pet’s skin or in your pet’s mouth.