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PETS AND POISONS
Please note!
Information on this page may change without notice to ThePetCenter.com. 
Therefore ThePetCenter.com cautions you to update your own information regarding emergency numbers and contact personnel
 such as your veterinarian, local physician and emergency care offices.

POISONOUS PLANTS and PETS

LAWN AND GARDEN PRODUCTS

Presented by ThePetCenter.com
 With permission from Dana Farbman, Senior
Manager of Client & Professional Relations
 ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center

 Or call the ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTER
888-4ANI-HELP (888-426-4435)
$50 fee may be applied to credit card 

A list of potentially poisonous plants for pets  

Plants that could cause kidney failure:

Certain species of lilies in cats only

Rhubarb (Rheum species)- leaves only

Plants that could cause liver failure:

Cycads  (Cycad species)

Amanita phalloides- mushroom

Plants that can cause multiple effects:

Autumn Crocus (Colchicum species)  Can cause bloody vomiting and diarrhea, shock, kidney failure, liver failure, bone marrow suppression.

 Castor Bean (Ricinus species )
· Usually a lag period of 48hours before signs appear
· Beans are highly toxic! Two to 4 beans can be lethal to adult humans!
· Severe gastroenteritis, oral pain and irritation increase in thirst, kidney failure, convulsions, death.

Mushrooms

ALWAYS assume that any ingested mushroom is highly toxic until that mushroom is identified by a mycologist.  Toxic and non-toxic mushrooms can grow in same area.

What should pet owners do if they suspect their animal has ingested a poisonous plant? What symptoms should they look for?

If a pet owner suspects that their animal ingested a poisonous plant, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.  Its advised to bring in part of the to a nursery for identification if the exact species is not known.  Symptoms of poisonings can include almost any clinical sign. The animal may even appear completely normal for several hours or for days. 

What about pesticides and fertilizers that might be in the garage or tool shed?

FERTILIZERS:  Make sure your pets do not go on lawns or in gardens treated with fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides until the time listed on the label by the manufacturer.  If you are uncertain about the usage of any product, contact the manufacturer for clarification before using it.  Always store pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides in areas that are inaccessible to your pets. The most serious problems resulting from fertilizer ingestion in pets is usually due to the presence of metals.  For instance, depending on the amount ingested, an iron toxicity could occur.  Iron can cause severe gastrointestinal upset and could result in multi-organ damage.  Also, ingestion of large amounts of fertilizer could cause severe gastric upset and possibly gastrointestinal obstruction.

PESTICIDES:  The most dangerous forms of pesticides include: snail bait containing metaldehyde, fly bait containing methomyl, systemic insecticides containing disyston or disulfaton, zinc phosphide containing mole or gopher bait and most forms of rat poisons.  When using pesticides place the products in areas that are totally inaccessible to your companion animals.  Always store pesticides in secured areas.

Is there a way for pet owners to train or teach their pets not to eat wrong plants?   There may be ways that a pet owner could train their pets to avoid certain areas of their home or yard where there are poisonous plants.  However, the safest method would be to prevent exposure to the plant through removal of the plants from your pet's home and yard. For more pet poison prevention tips or to tour our "virtual poisonous plant garden", visit napcc.aspca.org.

Calcium Oxalate containing plants:
Some plants that contain calcium oxalate crystals in the plant cells.  If the plant material is ingested, the crystals can cause oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of the oral cavity.  Clinical signs seen from ingesting these plants include difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, drooling, and inappetence.  The following is a list of some plants that contain calcium oxalate crystals:

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's Household Plant Reference
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has a recently revised companion animal oriented household and yard plant reference.  This 67 page bound publication is indexed and includes sections for toxic, potentially toxic, and non-toxic plants. It summarizes information from many literature and research resources, as well as the ASPCA APCC database. The Household Plant Reference is available for only $15, which includes postage and handling. To obtain a copy please send your name and address along with a check for $15 to: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center , 1717 South Philo Road, Suite #36 , Urbana, IL 61802

If you suspect your pet has ingested antifreeze, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-4-ANI-HELP (217-337-5030 outside of US and Canada) immediately!

ALWAYS Be Prepared !!!!   Your animal may become poisoned in spite of your best efforts to prevent it. You should keep telephone numbers for your veterinarian, a local emergency veterinary service, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-4 ANI-HELP) in a convenient location. If you suspect that your pet has ingested something poisonous, seek medical attention immediately.

 ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, an operating division of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is a unique, emergency hotline providing 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week telephone assistance to veterinarians and pet owners. The Center's hotline veterinarians can quickly answer questions about toxic substances found in our everyday surroundings that can be dangerous to animals. The Center maintains a wide collection of reference materials and computer databases that help provide toxicological information for various species.  Veterinary professionals provide around-the-clock, on-site coverage of the Center. The licensed staff members share over one hundred and ten years of combined call center experience and over seventy-five years of combined toxicology, clinical, and diagnostic experience.  The phone number of the Center is 1-888-4-ANI-HELP (1-888-426-4435).

Call the ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTER
888-4ANI-HELP (888-426-4435)
$50 fee may be applied to credit card