Animal Health Clinic of Funkstown

Toxic plants can be found everywhere; in your back yard, in your flowerbed, even in your house. It is important to know what you have and what could be potentially harmful to your pets. Toxic plants can affect the body in many different ways. The main systems affected are the heart (cardiotoxic), kidneys, liver and GI (Gastrointestinal) Tract. For Example:

Cardio-toxin- Lily of the Valley, Oleander, Rhododendron, Azalea, Foxglove
Kidney Failure- Lilies in cats, Rhubarb and grapes in dogs
Liver Failure- Cyads and mushrooms
Multiple symptoms-
- Crocus- GI, renal, liver damage, bone marrow suppression
- Caster bean- renal failure, convulsions and death.
- Poppy- Depresses Central Nervous system
- Larkspur/Delphinium- Respiratory difficulty, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain

Ten Most Common Poisonous Plants
From the American Society for the prevention
of Cruelty to Animals

1. Marijuana Depression of the Central nervous System and in-coordination, Diarrhea, vomiting, drooling, increased heart rate, seizure, and coma

2. Sago palm Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures, and liver failure. (The seed contain the largest amount of the toxin, though all parts are poisonous.)

3. Lilies Severe
kidney failure.

4. Tulip/narcissus Bulbs Intense gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of appetite, depression of the central nervous system, convulsions, and cardiac abnormalities.

5. Azalea/rhododendron Vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, weakness, and depression of the central nervous system. Severe poisoning can lead to coma and death from cardiovascular collapse.

6. Oleander Gastrointestinal tract irritation, abnormal heart function, hypothermia and death.

7. Caster bean Severe abdominal pain, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, weakness, and loss of appetite- severe cases can result in dehydration, muscle twitching, tremors, seizures, coma and death.

8. Cyclamen Gastrointestinal tract irritation, intense vomiting and death.

9. Kalanchoe Gastrointestinal tract irritation and arrhythmia

10. Yew Trembling, in-coordination, difficulty breathing gastrointestinal irritation, and cardiac failure.

Other plants that can be toxic are:


Holly, Poinsettia, Mistletoe- Mistletoe = cardiovascular problems, GI upset Holly = vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and lethargy Poinsettia = irritation of the mouth and stomach, mild vomiting, nausea Main concern is sharp prickly leaves scratching pets throat. Pet would have to eat large portion of plant to be toxic Now most stores remove berries and replace with plastic ones
	Christmas Tree Water- Fertilizer that come off the tree into the water can cause upset stomach Stagnant water results in bacteria build up that can cause diarrhea, and vomiting
Mushrooms- Always assume that a mushroom is toxic Causes Liver Failure Animals can appear completely normal for several days Signs can be anything and can appear at any time

For a more complete list of plants visit:
www.purina.com
Cornell University
or
contact the American society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) 1.888.426.4435,
or the National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC) 1.800.548.2423.