We like to surround ourselves with beautiful plants and good foods, but if there are cats or dogs in the house these same plants and foods can be a risk for them. There are many items that can be toxic if ingested by your pets. This can be particularly relevant during the winter holidays and at Easter when it’s common to give plants and foods as gifts. Since it is Pet Poison Prevention Week let’s review some of them.

Plants having toxicity

• All crocus species, but particularly Autumn crocus which contains colchicine. Symptoms and injuries include severe vomiting, liver and kidney damage, internal bleeding, and respiratory failure.
• Azaleas, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive drooling. Untreated it can lead to death.
• Cyclamen, causing similar symptoms to above.
• Kalanchoe, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and heart arrhythmias.
• Lilies, with less and more dangerous varieties. Less dangerous are Peace, Peruvian, or Calla lilies which can cause minor tissue irritation in the mouth. True lilies including Japanese Show, Eastern, Tiger, Day, and Asiatic varieties are highly toxic to cats and can result in severe kidney failure, even from small quantities of leaves eaten by the cat. Immediate veterinarian care is needed.
• Oleander, with the leaves and flowers being toxic and causing severe vomiting, reduced heart rate, and even death.
• Dieffenbachia, a popular home and office plant, can cause oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, nausea, and difficulty swallowing.
• Daffodils, containing an alkaloid which causes severe vomiting. Other symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, cardiac arrhythmia, and depressed respiration.
• Lily of the valley, symptoms as above
• Sago palm, symptoms as above
• Tulips and hyacinths, more dangerous in the bulbs than in the flowers or leaves. Probably more concern for dogs who dig up and eat the bulbs than for cats.

Foods having toxicity for our pets

• Alcoholic beverages
• Fruits and seeds including apple seeds, apricot pits, cherry pits, grapes, mustard seeds, peach pits, tomato plants (leaves and stems), raisins
• Vegetables and plants including avocados, garlic, hops used for home brewing, mushroom plants, onions and onion powder, potato leaves and stems (green parts of the plant), rhubarb plants (the leaves are toxic to humans as well)
• Coffee as beans, ground coffee, and chocolate-covered beans
• Any candy containing chocolate (toxic to dogs, cats, and ferrets) or Xylitol sweetener
• Macadamias and walnuts
• Salt
• Tea (because of caffeine)
• Chewing gum (causes blockages and sugar-free contains toxic Xylitol)
• Yeast dough

If you ever have an emergency call the Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680. What you can be sure of is that Mickey’s Pet Supplies will only use foods and treats that contain no harmful ingredients or chemicals which can hurt your pet. We sell all-natural supplies for cats and dogs, using carefully sourced suppliers. When you want the best for your pet, come shop with Mickey’s Pet Supplies.

Click here for additional information regarding the many poisonous hazards in and around your own home.