The content and information presented below is not veterinary advice. Nor is it a substitute for consultation with a veterinarian.
The best way to say I love you to pets is with great pet insurance from dotsure.co.za – not with flowers! Here’s our list of garden and park botany that won’t leave your pets feeling rosy.
Foxglove
This is one glove your pet should never stick its paw into. While very beautiful, its trumpet-like blossoms could blow your pet’s health to centre stage at your local vet.
AKA: Digitalis, digoxin, cardiac glycoside, common foxglove
Toxicity: Cats and dogs
Symptoms:
- Nausea
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Dilated pupils
Conditions: Seizures, heart problems, and tremors.
Lily
Lovely to look at but lilies are latent with lethal intent for your cat.
AKA: Asiatic lily, Daylily, Easter lily, Japanese Show lily, Oriental lily, Rubrum lily, Stargazer lily, Tiger lily, Wood lily
Toxicity: Cats
Symptoms:
- Decreased activity
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
Conditions: Kidney failure.
Daffodils
Delightful, but deadly - Daffodils are synonymous with spring. But their bright yellow petals can cast a dark cloud over your pet’s health.
AKA: Narcissus, Jonquil, Paper White
Toxicity: Cats and dogs
Symptoms:
- Drooling
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Increased heart rate
- Abdominal pain
- Abnormal breathing
- Cardiac arrhythmias
Tulips
The tulip is one of the most popular flowers and the butt of almost every flower-related pun or pickup line. Although often used when catcalling, tulips are toxic to cats.
AKA: Liliaceae, tulips, hyacinths
Toxicity: Cats & dogs
Symptoms:
- Drooling
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Increased heart rate
- Increased respiratory rate
- Difficulty breathing
Conditions: Irregular heart rate and respiratory problems.
Azalea
Don’t leave your loved ones alone with Azaleas. Cats generally don’t have to use one of their 9 lives after an accidental encounter with the alluring azalea, but dogs could need to borrow a life from their feline foes after exposure.
AKA: Ericaceae, Rhododendron, grayanotoxin
Toxicity: Mainly dogs
Symptoms:
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain
- Inappetence
- Weakness
Conditions: Heart arrhythmia, hypotension, depression, tremors, transient blindness, seizures, coma.
Autumn Crocus
AKA: meadow saffron, naked ladies, naked boy, or son-before-the-father
Toxicity: Cats and dogs
Symptoms
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Bloody diarrhoea
Conditions
Liver and kidney damage, respiratory failure, and even death.
Amaryllis
Keep your feline friend and your barking buds aways from this beaty because she is lethal!
AKA: Liliacea, Narcissus, Belladonna Amaryllis
Toxicity: Cats and dogs
Symptoms
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Hypotension (drop in blood pressure)
- Respiratory depression
- Abdominal discomfort
It is important to note that several factors including the amount of substance ingested, the size of the animal, allergies, and more determine what is toxic to a particular pet and the severity of the symptoms. If you suspect your pet has ingested something that is potentially toxic, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline for treatment recommendations.