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Flowers that are toxic to our furry friends

Today’s the first day of spring! For many Americans that means this weekend will be the first of the season spent outdoors picking weeds, spreading mulch, and planting fresh flowers. When bringing new plants into your home or planting flowers outside, it’s important to remember which ones can be harmful to our furry friends.

 

Toxic Indoor Plants:

Easter, Tiger, and Day Lilies, as well as Spotted Dumbcane are notorious for being harmful to cats. Serious kidney damage can result in just 24 hours’ time if a cat were to ingest any of the above flowers. Spotted Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia) and Kalanchoe can also be hazardous to dogs if consumed, resulting in “vomiting, heart problems, and convulsions.”

 

Toxic Outdoor Plants:

Sago Palms (cycads), especially the seeds, are toxic for most household pets. Oleander and brunfelsia have been shown to be toxic when consumed by dogs and cats. Their toxicity doesn’t stop there though, as each plant can also be harmful for horses and cattle. Like indoor plants, lilies planted outdoors are also harmful to dogs and cats. Tulips, azaleas, rhododendron, yews, and castor bean plants have also been known to be hazardous to the health of the smallest members of our families.

 

If you believe your pet may have ingested a toxic plant, the first sign to look for is vomiting. Murl Bailey, professor of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M, wants pets owners to know that other signs of toxin ingestion are loose bowels, depression or excitement. If you believe your pet has ingested a toxic plant, it “should be taken to an animal emergency clinic as soon as possible. Pet owners can also call the ASPCA poison control line at 888-426-4435.”

To read the entire post by the Shawnee News-Star, click here: https://bit.ly/2CnED5M

For the ASPCA’s guide on plants toxic to animals, follow this link: https://bit.ly/13cunsF