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Hazardous Plants
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.
