We all enjoy our flowering plants. However, pet owners need to be aware that some plants are toxic if their animal has a hankering to eat them!
You may already know that daffodils cause stomach upsets or vomiting (or worse) if you pet eats any parts of the plant. Many lilies are also considered extremely toxic; this can be more of a danger because lilies are often brought inside as houseplants or holiday decorations. But you may not know that foxglove and aloe vera are quite poisonous, too.
We’ve highlighted some of the most toxic plant below. However, there are more than 700 plants with toxic substances that are dangerous to dogs, cats, and other pets if ingested, so always make sure that you know whether any new plants you bring home are toxic or not!
Dogs CANNOT eat:
Aloe vera
Angel’s trumpet
Autumn crocus
Azalea
Begonia (annual)
Bittersweet (vine)
Bleeding heart
Boston ivy (vine)
Boxwood (shrub)
Burning bush (shrub)
Calla lily
Castor bean
Chokecherry
Christmas rose/Lenten rose
Clematis (vine)
Daffodil
Daphne
Daylily
Easter lily
Elephant’s ear
English ivy (vine)
Foxglove
Holly
Hosta
Hyacinth
Iris
Jimsonweed
Lantana (annual/houseplant)
Lily (true lilies)
Lily of the Valley
Mistletoe
Monkshood
Morning glory (vine)
Mountain laurel (shrub)
Mums
Nightshade, also called Belladonna
Oleander (tree)
Peace lily
Potatoes (leaves, shoots, sprouts)
Rhododendrons
Rose of Sharon (shrub)
Sago palm
Tiger lily
Tulip
Wisteria (vine)
Yarrow
Yew (bush)
Cats CANNOT eat:
Aloe Vera
Amaryllis
Asian Lily
Asparagus Fern
Autumn Crocus
Azalea (Rhododendron)
Begonia
Bittersweet
Boxwood
Burning Bush
Calla Lily
Castor Bean
Christmas Rose/Lenten Rose
Common or cherry laurel
Carnations
Catnip (Many cats love catnip, but it can cause vomiting and diarrhea.)
Cyclamens
Daylily
Daffodil
Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia)
Easter Lily
Elephant’s ears (Caladium)
Forced indoor bulbs such as narcissus (Paper whites)
Foxglove
Geranium
Holly
Hyacinth
Hydrangeas
Larkspur
Lily (true lilies)
Lily of the Valley
Mistletoe
Mums
Oleander
Philodendron
Rubber plants
Sago Palm
Tiger Lily
True Ivy
Winter, or false Jerusalem, cherry
Yew (bush)
This is one of our most common questions. Though they have a bad reputation, poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) plants are only mildly toxic to cats and dogs. There can be mild skin, eye, or tummy irritation. Due to the low level of toxicity seen with poinsettia ingestion, medical treatment is rarely necessary unless clinical signs are severe.
They CAN eat:
Chickweed
Coltsfoot
Dandelion
Goldenrod
Green clover
Groundsel
Mallow
Plantain
Yarrow
Asters
Marigolds
Nasturtiums
Sunflowers
Sweet Peas
Buttercups
Deadly nightshade
Foxglove
Scarlet Pimpernel
Flowers of leaves from bulbs, such as tulips
Lily of the valley
Rhododendrons
Iguanas love fruits and vegetables, but sometimes pet iguanas don’t know the difference between poisonous and not poisonous, as wild iguanas instinctively do.
Iguanas CANNOT eat:
Amaryllis bulbs
Apple seeds
Avocado pits, peels, foliage
Azaleas
Christmas Cacti
Cyclamens
Daffodil bulbs and sap
Delphiniums
Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia)
Foxglove
Hyacinth Bulb
Hydrangea Flowers
Impatiens
Ivy (most kinds)
Mistletoe berries and foliage
Rhododendrons
Tomato plant foliage and vines
Tulips
Wisteria
If you’re pet exhibits these signs, they may have eaten something poisonous. Call your vet or the ASPCA poison control center immediately. If possible, bring a sample of the plant and tell the vet staff how much your pet ingested.
Excessive salivation
Vomiting
Lethargy
Rapid Breathing
Racing or irregular pulse
Cold extremities
Vulnerability to plant toxicities does depend on pet species, amount digested, and the size of your pet.
