PLANTS AND OTHER MISC. STUFF

IF THIS IS AN EMERGENCY AND YOU BELIEVE YOUR PET HAS INGESTED A TOXIC SUBSTANCE. DO NOT WAIT. CALL THE ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTER AT 888-426-4435.

More than 700 varieties of plants have been identified as having the ability to cause toxic reactions in our pets. These toxic reactions can range from mild tummy upset to localized irritation of the mouth/throat (if ingested) to death. I am not going to even try to list all of them. This list has a dozen of the most common plants that may be found in homes. They are not in a particular order, so please read through the entire list.

** This list is geared toward dogs, but you can assume that if it is harmful to dogs it is likely to also be harmful to cats. In many cases, these plants are significantly more harmful to cats than they are to dogs. Please research any plants that your cat may have access to in order to ensure its safety.

If you have a plant in your home, garden or other area of your property that is not listed here, please check the following websites for further information.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/

This is the ASPCA website. Here you can look for plants that are toxic to dogs, cats and horses, or you can limit the search to a single animal. This site includes pictures of the plants for easy identification

http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/dogs/index.html

This link is to Cornell University’s Department of Animal Science site for toxic plants. The list is broken down into categories such as household plants, garden vegetable plants, trees and shrubs, etc.

PLANTS:

MARIJUANA:  I mention this one first because it is already very common, and with more states legalizing the medicinal use, its presence in pet-homes is growing. The toxin is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Pets are more likely to be affected by ingesting the plant than by inhaling the smoke from the plant, but it is not a good idea to try to give your pet a “contact high” as symptoms may develop from that as well. Symptoms can vary based on individual dog, dosage exposure and potency of product.  Symptoms begin 30-90 minutes after ingestion and include: dilated pupils, excessive drooling, disorientation, recumbency (leaning, not holding their own weight), incontinence, increase or decrease in heart rate, extreme sensitivity to touch/pain/other stimuli (hyperesthesia), lethargy, lack of coordination resulting in a wobbly or staggering gate (ataxia), tremors, seizure, depression, excessive sleep (somnolence) which can approach coma, slow or shallow breathing (respiratory depression) and potentially death. THC is stored in the fat cells, so symptoms may last up to 72 hours. Immediate attention from a veterinarian is appropriate if you suspect marijuana ingestion. Veterinarians are not obligated to report to the police, so do not let that stop you from seeking assistance if your dog (or other pet) has discovered your stash.

APPLES, APRICOTS, PLUMS, PEACHES, CHERRIES: Unless your dog has a particular allergy, small bits of the flesh of these fruits should not cause your dog harm. The stems, leaves and seeds of these fruits contain cyanide which can be toxic if eaten. Symptoms include: dilated pupils, breathing difficulty, panting, drooling, dark red mucous membranes, vomiting, lethargy and shock.

ALOE: As an ingredient in shampoos and the like it is not toxic. Ingesting aloe gel can cause diarrhea and vomiting in dogs. It may also cause loss of appetite, abdominal pain, swollen tongue, pale gums/tongue, muscle tremors or full convulsions.

ELEPHANT EARS (CALADIUMS): This common decorative plant can cause irritation to the lips and tongue, vomiting and difficult swallowing.

DEVIL’S IVY (GOLDEN POTHOS): This is the # 1 household plant, so if you have plants in your home, you probably have at least one of these leafy green guys. Ingesting some of this plant can cause your dog to experience vomiting, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing and localized irritation around the lips and tongue.

LILIES: While pretty, lilies should not be a treat of choice. Most varieties of lily are toxic to some degree to dogs and cats. Symptoms vary based on type of plant, but can include: diarrhea (possibly bloody), vomiting, difficulty swallowing and burning of the mouth and tongue. More serious symptoms may include a drop in blood pressure, arrhythmias (out-of-rhythm heart beat), tremors and convulsions, liver damage, kidney failure and even a suppression in the production of bone marrow.

CYCLAMEN: A very pretty pink or red flower, but it is potentially deadly to our dogs. Immediate veterinary treatment is necessary if your dog ingests any of this plant. Symptoms include vomiting and death.

GLADIOLAS: Often part of bouquets, these flowers can cause depression, excessive drooling, abdominal pain, vomiting (potentially bloody) as well as diarrhea – also potentially bloody.

AZALEA/RHODODENDRON: This is a highly toxic plant. Ingestion can cause a host of symptoms that begin within just a few hours of ingestion. Symptoms include acute digestive upset displaying as excessive drooling, loss of appetite, vomiting, incontinence (diarrhea or frequent bowel movements) and colic. You may also see depression, ataxia (loss of muscle coordination, leg paralysis, weakness), and recumbency (leaning against objects/humans). These symptoms can last for 2 or more days. There may be signs of recovery at that point, or the animal may slip into a coma and die.

DIEFFENBACHIA: This common house plant can cause difficulty swallowing, excessive drooling, vomiting, and oral irritation including an intense burning of the mouth, tongue and lips.

DAISY: This very common garden plant can cause skin irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea and lack of coordination.

DOG DAISY: While it has a name that we may like, ingesting this variety of daisy can cause skin irritation, diarrhea, vomiting and increased urination.

CALIFORNIA IVY: Found in the yards of many west coast homes, ingestion of this ivy can cause abdominal pain, excessive drooling, diarrhea and vomiting. In this case the leaves are more toxic than the berries, but neither should be ingested.

MISCELLANEOUS HOUSEHOLD ITEMS:

Next is a list of various other items that might be found in your home that could harm your pet. This list is far from exhaustive. If you are concerned that something your pet has eaten may be poisonous or in some other way potentially harmful, please contact your vet immediately. If it is after hours, please contact the animal poison control center at (888) 426-4435.

HUMAN VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS: These pills are dosed for humans and not dogs. Giving them without direct supervision by your pet’s veterinarian can cause damage to the liver and kidneys as well as direct damage to the lining of the stomach and intestines.

TYLENOL: Dog livers do not have the enzymes necessary to break down acetaminophen. Small dogs can have severe reactions to as little as two regular strength tablets. Symptoms include abdominal pain, excessive drooling and lethargy.Immediate intervention by a veterinarian is in order if ingestion occurs.

POTPOURRI: While the individual flower petals in a bowl of potpourri may not be toxic in and of themselves to your pet, the essential oils that are on the petals can be quite toxic. These essential oils can cause burns to the mouth, esophagus and tongue. These burns can be severe. Please keep potpourri and the oils used to refresh it well out of reach of your four-legged companions (this includes cats who can get up on higher shelves).

CITRUS OIL EXTRACTS: Can cause vomiting.

FERTILIZER: Ingesting fertilizer can cause severe damage to the digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, intestines) as well as gastrointestinal blockage that can be fatal. Do not allow your dogs to have access to an area that has just been fertilized. Check the instructions on the product to determine how long you must wait before allowing your dog to enter that area.

MOUSE/RAT POISON: If you need to use a mouse or rat poison at your home, be sure to keep your dog away from that area. This is one of the most toxic things your pet can come in contact with. There are three common types of poisons found in these products, all of them can be fatal to your pets. Bromethalins cause central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction while cholecalciferols can dramatically increase calcium levels – resulting in seizures prior to death. The most commonly found poisons in these rodenticides are anticoagulants. Anticoagulants reduce the production of blood clotting factors, allowing the animal that has ingested it to bleed to death. A general rule of thumb: if it can kill one type of small mammal, it can kill another – yours.

STRING/RIBBON/FLUFF: We may think of string and ribbon as a fairly innocuous item, but ingesting it can cause intestinal obstruction. This can be extremely serious and may require surgical intervention. This is true of the string fringe on rope toys and the stuffing from plush toys. This does not mean that your dog can never play with these toys. What it does mean is that they should be supervised toys so that you can remove the strings or fluff as they become separated from the toy. This way the dog can enjoy the toy and you can help to ensure that they do not ingest the bits that can harm them.

TOBACCO: Ingesting tobacco (eating a cigarette) can not only cause digestive upset, it can also have adverse affects on the nervous system. This can cause a rapid heartbeat, collapse, coma and potentially death.  Second hand smoke is not quite as toxic, but can have similar affects on our pets as it does on humans, including lung cancer and emphysema.

BATTERIES: Dogs will sometimes swallow the weirdest things. Batteries, from big D cell down to watch batteries and even hearing aid batteries are potentially deadly. Within 12 hours of swallowing a battery, the alkaline acids can cause a fatal ulceration of the stomach lining. If you fear your dog has swallowed any kind of battery, get them to a vet’s office immediately!

MOUTHWASH: It may taste good, but we don’t swallow it and neither should your dog. Drinking mouthwash can cause excessive drooling, vomiting, seizures and coma.

ANTIFREEZE: Antifreeze tastes sweet and is inviting to your pet to lick it up. But the main ingredient, ethylene glycol, is highly toxic. Symptoms of antifreeze toxicity include vomiting, lethargy, stumbling, seizures and kidney failure. Without immediate treatment, this can quickly become fatal.

MOTH BALLS: We may not think about mothballs as harmful, just a bit smelly. But they contain an insecticide. As mentioned with rat/mouse poisons, if it can kill one type of animal, it can have adverse  effects on another type as well. In this case, you will see central nervous system (CNS) excitation and seizures. If not treated immediately, your pet can experience liver failure. Unlike many toxic items your dog may get into, this is one case where you DO NOT WANT TO INDUCE VOMITING.