If you’re sending flowers this Valentine’s Day, or Easter, or any special occasion to someone with pets, you might be ordering something beautifully toxic for their furry loved ones.  Cats and dogs - who are known to nibble on anything and everything within reach - can become deathly ill by eating certain blooms and plants.  Even simply ingesting the pollen of some flowers can send a cat’s kidneys into shock and even failure!

Any part of any kind of lily - if eaten by your feline - can be deadly, if not caught soon enough.  Stargazers, tigers, Easter lilies - ALL lilies - are seriously toxic to kitties.  If you get a bouquet with them in it, keep it securely sequestered from your curious cat.  Even those long anthers that reach out from the middle of the bloom that have the fuzzy pollen on them - if your cat licks them, it can make them very sick.  You will notice the symptoms of the poisoning in as soon as 30 minutes. If you suspect your kitty consumed any lily parts, you may want to induce vomiting to get it out of his/her system, but definitely call your vet right away and get their advice!  Chances are you’ll be making a trip to the animal clinic ASAP.

For woofers, the list can be similar, but there are also some varieties that stand out as particularly dangerous to dogs. Especially the Sago Palm.  My gosh, our yards are lousy with these here in Southern Nevada… and many other mild climate states.  The plants are often sold in plant baskets or as small ornamental bonsais, then get transplanted as they grow bigger and taller.  From everything I’ve read and info from local veterinarians - they’re downright deadly for dogs!

For both cats and dogs, Azaleas are a bad choice.  This time of year, you see them potted at the florists and in the grocery stores.  The plant contains a toxin called Cycasin - which can cause liver damage.  Of course, the more of the plant a dog or cat eats - the more severely it will affect the animal’s liver, and it, too, can be deadly within 24 to 48 hours. Cycasin is also toxic to humans.

Other beautiful blooms that could make the recipient’s furry loved ones sick include some of the most common, especially for the spring such as tulips, hydrangea, and freesias.  Many potted green plants - like ivy - are also toxic to Fluffy and Fido.  Here’s a good list of bad flowers and plants!

So before you pick up that pretty bouquet or ring the florist… maybe take a minute to go over some of the dangerous varieties and safeguards you can take to avoid possibly losing one of the most important members of someone’s family - thanks to your thoughtful flowers!  And guess what!  Roses are not on any of the bad lists!  It seems the worst they can do is give the pet good breath!  Now there’s a great reason to invest in those beauties!

Thanks Dr. Debbie White of Lone Mountain Animal Hospital for the terrific information!  You can listen to her on Animal Radio each weekend.  Woof, meow!

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Tags: azaleas, bouquets, cats, dogs, lilies, pets, toxic flowers

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