Flowers are always a welcome gift! Flowers cheer you up when you are down, make grey days bright and make you feel better when you are sick. And some flowers can make your pet sick. According to WEBMD Pet Health Center more than 20,000 pets are poisoned by flowers and plants each year. Common symptoms of pet poisoning include: lethargy, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling and nausea. While pet poisoning is considered rare, you can avoid the risk by being aware of harmful varieties of plants and flowers.
Common flower varieties include chrysanthemums, lilies and most bulb varieties such as; tulips, iris, crocus, hyacinth and daffodils. Chrysanthemums contain pyrethrins harvested from the bloom which are used in organic pesticides and can cause lethargy and drooling in your pet. The bloom and stamen of the lily are extremely poisonous to cats but only mildly so to dogs. Bulb flowers like hyacinth and daffodils are toxic if your pet eats the bulb, but the flowers and blooms are not so. Common house plants that are toxic include: dracaena varieties, con plant and marjenata varieties, some succulent varieties like aloe and jade, and extremely poisonous diffenbachia varieites (dumb cane).
Often your pet instinctively avoid these flowers and plants, however younger pets are curious. If you believe your pet has consumed a poisonous flower or plant contact your veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately. It is helpful to know the name of the flowers or plant consumed and bring a sample in a small bag with you to your appointment so that the doctor can prescribe the best treatment.
Keep gifting beautiful flowers and plants but be sure to discuss pet concerns with your local florist when placing your order.
