Plant-Proofing Your Home

 

How to keep your pets safe from outdoor and indoor poisonous plants

By Julie Marie Gervais

 

Your pets love being outdoors as much as you do, relishing in the freedom, fresh air, clear water and tall grass. Despite all the good things that come from being outside with our animals, we must take precautions to ensure that our furry friends are safe. Wild and domestic plants commonly found in our homes or backyards can cause serious illnesses, and even death, to the pet if ingested. As your pet explores neighborhood gardens, they may be at risk of exposure to toxic elements in nature. Even indoor plants can pose serious problems if eaten. Hereís how you can pet-proof your home for your lovable little creatures.


Plant Precautions

For starters, you might consider not cultivating or removing certain types of plants around your pet. Spring and summer are high seasons for flowers to bloom. As much as we may enjoy having a beautiful garden decorating our homes, we should be aware of the potential risks they pose to our pets.  Daffodils and tulip bulbs, common to most gardens, are poisonous to cats and dogs. Signs of poisoning include diarrhea, vomiting, staggering, foaming of the mouth, disorientation, unconsciousness and coma due to respiratory failure; your veterinarian should treat these symptoms immediately, as they could cause death. Toxins contained in daffodils include alkaloids, such as galanthamine and lycorine, for which there is no specific antidote. 

It’s not always the plant stalk or petals that are poisonous; other parts such as seeds or roots can also contain harmful toxins. Some examples include the foliage of English ivy, Morning Glory seeds, green berries from yellow sage and iris bulbs.

 

In most cases, any part of a poisonous plant can affect or harm your animal. The lily family is one example of a plant being poisonous in its entirety. If your pet eats any part of this type of plant, it could cause harmful and fatal side effects. Aloe vera and bittersweet also fall under this category. Even onions, whether raw, cooked or dehydrated, are toxic to dogs and cats.

 

“It is especially important to know that plants toxic to pets may be harmful to children, too.”

 

Spring and summer are not the only seasons for pet owners to be mindful of toxic plants. During the holiday season, common festive varieties can also be harmful. The bright red berries of Holly plants can be fatal to animals and the sap from the popular Pointsettia plant may be a less-fatal irritant. The berries, leaves and stems of Mistletoe contain poisonous contaminants and should be kept far away from your dog or cat. It is especially important to know that plants toxic to pets may be harmful to children, too.

 

If your pet has access to any of the plants listed above, you may want to remove them from your home or garden or limit your pets’ access to these areas. To pet proof your home, try using a dog or cat repellant, which can be sprayed on the plant in question. Pets come in all sizes and it takes less poison to harm a smaller pet than a larger one. Remember puppies and kittens are more curious than older pets, so be extra careful when taking them outside.

 

If you suspect your pet has been exposed to toxic plants, if possible, take a plant sample with your pet to the nearest vet immediately.  Be sure to have the following information before calling:

 

1. What plant (and what part of the plant) did your pet eat?
2. How much of the plant did your pet eat?
3. When did your pet eat it?
4. What are your pet’s symptoms or vital signs?

 

We all enjoy shopping for decorative plants to warm up our homes, however, plant nurseries do not often provide warning labels, which is why we must research any plants we are considering purchasing before exposing them to dogs or cats.  For more information and a complete list of all poisonous plants, please contact the ASPCA Pet Poison Hot Line at 1-800-548-2423. Alternatively, your local vet should also be able to provide information.

 


References

 

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

 

  1. Wolfson and Solomons 1964, McLennan and Amos 1989, Spoerke and Smolinske 1990 McLennan, M. W., Amos, M. L. 1989. Spoerke, D. G., Smolinske, S. C. 1990. Toxicity of houseplants. CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Fla., USA. 335 pp. Wolfson, S. L., Solomons, T. W. 1964. Poisoning by fruit of Lantana camara. Am. J. Dis. Child., 107: 109-112.

 

  1. Dr. Michael Richards, Director, PetCare Forum on AOL, producer VetInfo Digest.

 

  1. Government of Canada, Notes on poisoning, Tulipa gesneriana, Cooper, M. R., Johnson, A. W. 1984. “Poisonous plants in Britain and their effects on animals and man.” Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, England. 305 pp.

 

  1. Government of Canada, Notes on poisoning, Jersualem-cherry. Der Marderosian, A. H., Giller, F. B., Roia, F. C. 1976. “Phytochemical and toxicological screening of household ornamental plants potentially toxic to humans”. 1. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 1: 939-953. Spoerke, D. G., Smolinske, S. C. 1990. Toxicity of houseplants. CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Fla., USA. 335 pp.

 

  1. Dr. Sharon Saxon-Buri, Daffodil toxicosis, the University of Guelph, Canadian Veterinary Journal, v45(3), March 2004.

 

The Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, May 12, 2006.