Common Poisonous Plants
Common Poisonous Plants
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The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Poison Control Center is an excellent resource for information on toxic plants, as well as animal poison control in general.
Narcissus, Mistletoe & Rhododendron Toxicosis Report Narcissus Common garden ornamental bulb. AKA: Daffodil, jonquil (scientific name- narcissus spp.) Toxic Principle: Narcissine, narcipoeitin, lycorineh, other alkaloids. *Bulb is the most toxic part of plant* Symptoms/Clinical Signs: Severe GI disorders (nausea, emesis, diarrhea), convulsions, shivering, hypotension, dermatitis, muscle tremors, and cardiac arrhythmias. Recommended Treatment: Gastric Lavage, activated charcoal, fluid replacement and supportive treatment for gastroenteritis. Rhododendron: Common garden and landscape plant. Also common in the woods of WNC. AKA: Azalea (scientific name- rhododendron spp.) Toxic Principle: Grayantoxin *Leaves and flowers are toxic as well as honey made from the flower nectar* Symptoms/Clinical Signs: Emesis, burning sensation in mouth, dimness of vision, diarrhea, hypersalivation, weakness, CNS depression, bradycardia, arrhythmia, cardiovascular collapse, and death. Recommened Treatment: Do NOT use emetics. Use activated charcoal, replace fluid losses and provide respiratory support. Treat heart block with isoproterenol. Mistletoe: Common ornamental plant during hollidays. Parasitic shrub that grows on other trees. Can be found worldwide in the wild. AKA: American Mistletoe Scientific name(s)- phoradendron leucarpum, P. serotinum, P. flavescens Europian Mistletoe Scientific name- viscum spp. Toxic Principle: Toxalbumin, pharatoxin viscumin All members of Viscaceae are semiparisitic plants that grow on other trees and toxicity is thought to vary with type of host tree upon which a plant grows. Generally Europian mistletoes are considered more toxic than their American counterparts. *Leaves, stems and berries are moderately toxic* Symptoms/Clinical Signs: Emesis, colic, diarrhea, mydriasis, hypovolemia, depression, and hypotension. Serious clinical signs are not expected and most signs that do develop are expected to be mild and self-limiting. Fluid and electrolyte abnormalities could develop in patients with prior health problems or if there has been protracted vomiting. Recommened Treatment: Fluid and electrolyte replacement, demulcents for gastroenteritis. References: Tilley, Larry P. and Smith, Francis W.K. Jr. The 5 Minute Veterinary Consult Canine and Feline Second Edition. Baltimore, MD ©2000 Peterson, Michaele E. and Talcott, Patricia, Small Animal Toxicology Second Edition. St Louise, MO ©2006. |
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If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, prompt action is necessary. Call your regular veterinarian or R.E.A.C.H. immediately. The veterinarian will need to know what plant was eaten, so take a sample of the plant with you to the hospital.
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You may also call ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. (Please note that a $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.)
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ASPCA Pet Tips: 17 Common Poisonous Plants
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Top 17 Poisonous Plants
Amaryllis
Toxic to both cats and dogs. Bulbs contain the most toxins.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia, tremors.
Toxic to both cats and dogs. Bulbs contain the most toxins.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia, tremors.
Autumn Crocus
Toxic to both dogs and cats. The entire plant is dangerous.
• Symptoms: Oral irritation, bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, multi-organ damage and bone marrow suppression.
Toxic to both dogs and cats. The entire plant is dangerous.
• Symptoms: Oral irritation, bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, multi-organ damage and bone marrow suppression.
Azalea/Rhodedendron
Toxic to dogs, cats, horses, goats and sheep.
• Symptoms: Acute digestive upset, excessive drooling, loss of appetite, frequent bowel movements/diarrhea, colic, depression, weakness, loss of coordination, stupor, leg paralysis, weak heart rate and possibly death.
Toxic to dogs, cats, horses, goats and sheep.
• Symptoms: Acute digestive upset, excessive drooling, loss of appetite, frequent bowel movements/diarrhea, colic, depression, weakness, loss of coordination, stupor, leg paralysis, weak heart rate and possibly death.
Castor Bean
Toxic to cats, dogs and horses
• Symptoms: abdominal pain, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, weakness and loss of appetite, tremors, seizures, coma and death.
Toxic to cats, dogs and horses
• Symptoms: abdominal pain, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, weakness and loss of appetite, tremors, seizures, coma and death.
Chrysanthemum
Toxic to cats, dogs.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, dermatitis.
Toxic to cats, dogs.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, dermatitis.
Cyclamen
Toxic to cats and dogs. The highest concentration of the toxic component is typically located in the root portion of the plant.
• Symptoms: gastrointestinal irritation, including intense vomiting, possible death.
Toxic to cats and dogs. The highest concentration of the toxic component is typically located in the root portion of the plant.
• Symptoms: gastrointestinal irritation, including intense vomiting, possible death.
Daffodil
Toxic to both cats and dogs; the bulbs being the most toxic part.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias.
Toxic to both cats and dogs; the bulbs being the most toxic part.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias.
Ivy (California Ivy, Branching Ivy, Glacier Ivy, English Ivy)
Toxic to both cats and dogs. Ivy foliage is more toxic than its berries.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, diarrhea.
Toxic to both cats and dogs. Ivy foliage is more toxic than its berries.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, diarrhea.
Japanese Yew
Toxic to cats, dogs and horses–but general ingestion of any part of the tree (except the flesh of the berry) can be very dangerous to all animals.
• Symptoms: Trembling, in-coordination, and difficulty breathing, gastrointestinal irritation, cardiac failure, and death.
Toxic to cats, dogs and horses–but general ingestion of any part of the tree (except the flesh of the berry) can be very dangerous to all animals.
• Symptoms: Trembling, in-coordination, and difficulty breathing, gastrointestinal irritation, cardiac failure, and death.
Kalanchoe
Toxic to both cats and dogs.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, abdominal pain, low blood pressure, diarrhea and cardiac arrhythmias.
Toxic to both cats and dogs.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, abdominal pain, low blood pressure, diarrhea and cardiac arrhythmias.
Lilies
Dangerous to cats! Members of the Lilium family are considered to be highly toxic to cats, even when very small portions are ingested. Many types of lily (Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Easter, Stargazer, Casa Blanca) can cause kidney failure in cats. Curiously, lilies are not toxic to dogs.
• Symptoms: Kidney failure.
Dangerous to cats! Members of the Lilium family are considered to be highly toxic to cats, even when very small portions are ingested. Many types of lily (Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Easter, Stargazer, Casa Blanca) can cause kidney failure in cats. Curiously, lilies are not toxic to dogs.
• Symptoms: Kidney failure.
Peace Lily
Toxic to both cats and dogs (not to be confused with standard).
• Symptoms: Oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing and intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue in pets who ingest.
Toxic to both cats and dogs (not to be confused with standard).
• Symptoms: Oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing and intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue in pets who ingest.
Oleander
Toxic to cats, dogs, and even horses.
• Symptoms: Colic, diarrhea (possibly bloody), sweating, in-coordination, shallow/difficult breathing, muscle tremors, recumbency, and possibly death from cardiac failure
• Symptoms: Colic, diarrhea (possibly bloody), sweating, in-coordination, shallow/difficult breathing, muscle tremors, recumbency, and possibly death from cardiac failure
Marijuana
Toxic to all animals.
• Symptoms: Diarrhea, vomiting, increased heart rate, drooling, in-coordination, seizures and possible coma.
Toxic to all animals.
• Symptoms: Diarrhea, vomiting, increased heart rate, drooling, in-coordination, seizures and possible coma.
Pothos
Toxic to both cats and dogs.
• Symptoms: Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
Toxic to both cats and dogs.
• Symptoms: Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
Sago Palm
Toxic to all animals; all parts are poisonous, but especially the seeds.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, melena, icterus, increased thirst, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, bruising, coagulopathy, liver damage, liver failure, death.
Toxic to all animals; all parts are poisonous, but especially the seeds.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, melena, icterus, increased thirst, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, bruising, coagulopathy, liver damage, liver failure, death.
Schefflera
Toxic to both cats and dogs.
• Symptoms: Oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing and intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue.
Toxic to both cats and dogs.
• Symptoms: Oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing and intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue.
Tulip/Narcissus
Toxic to dogs, cats and horses. It’s the bulb of the tulip and narcissus plants that have the highest concentration of toxins.
• Symptoms: Intense gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of appetite, depression of the central nervous system, convulsions and cardiac abnormalities.
Toxic to dogs, cats and horses. It’s the bulb of the tulip and narcissus plants that have the highest concentration of toxins.
• Symptoms: Intense gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of appetite, depression of the central nervous system, convulsions and cardiac abnormalities.
