Poison Plants: Their Effect on the Health of Your Pets

Different toxins affect different parts of the body.  Here I will break it down into those sections that are affected.

Kidney Failure

● Philodendron 

Consisting of more than 900 species.  Many are grown as indoor/ornamental plants. Concerning cats it has been known to produce renal failure, encephalitis , spasms, seizure and excitability.

● Oak 

A tree or shrub native to the northern hemisphere.  Many of us have these in our back yard and never realized their harmful effects.  Consumption of acorns in dogs can produce such complications as bloody diahrrea, vomiting, constipation and kidney failure.

● Begonia

With over 1500 species occuring in subtropical or tropical climates in south and central America, Africa and southern Asia.  A common flower used in flower beds. For dogs and cats may produce oral irritation or burning of the mouth, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing.

● Rhubarb Leaves 

Rhubarb has been domesticated for use in human consumption.  Indigenous to Asia.  Only the leaves contain toxin and while it takes a lot of leaves to cause any concern, if your dog or cat continually eat them it could cause drooling, vomiting, or a staggering walk.

● Jack-In-The-Pulpit (bog onion, brown dragon, Indian Turnip, Wake Robin or Wild turnip)

Native to eastern North America in moist wetlands and thickets.  Contains oxalic acid and asparagine which are poisonous if ingested.

● Lantana

150 species of perennial flowering plants.  Native to the tropical regions of the Americas.  Extremely poisionous to cats and dogs.  Produces sluggishness, weakness, bloody diahrrea and in extreme cases death could occur in 2-4 days.

● Shamrock

Symbol of Ireland.  Especially toxic to cats.

● Anthurium (flamingo flower or boy flower)

Found in the wet tropical mountain forests of South and Central America.

● Caladium (Angel WIngs, Heart of Jesus, and Elephant Ear)

Indigenous to Brazil.  Commonly used for ornamental garden plants.

● Calla Lily

Found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Extremely toxic when fresh.

● Schefflera

Flowering trees or shrubs usually grown as houseplants.

The Nervous System

● Rosary Pea (commonly known as Jequirity, Crab’s Eye, ‘John Crow’ Bead, Precatory bean, Indian Licorice, Saga Tree or Giddee Giddee)

The toxins from this plant work by penetrating the cells of the body through the membranes and inhibiting cell protein synthesis.  Without synthesis the cells will die. Symptoms include vomiting , seizure, bloody urine or fatality.

● Morning Glory

A common garden flower that blooms in the day and dies at night.  The seeds produce a hallucinatory effect when eaten.  Have been known to produce uterine contractions in animals resulting in miscarriages.

● Poinsettia

A flowering plant indigenous to Mexico and Guatemala.  Not highly toxic but may sometimes cause diarrhea and vomiting.

● Bracken Fern

A large, course fern commonly found on moorland.  Found on all continents except Antarctica.  Shown to be carcinogenic in some animals.

● Crocus Bulb

Perennial flowering plants native to areas from coastal sub-alpine areas of southern and central Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

● Lupin (or Lupine)

Found in South America and western North America. Contain certain amounts of toxic alkaloids.

● Marijuana or Hemp (Cannabis)

Native to Asia but now found all over the world. Symptoms after ingestion can include, slow heart rate, low body temperature, muscle incoordination, respiratory distress, vomiting, diarrhea, urinary incontinence, seizures and coma.

● Potato (leaves and stems) 

Affects the nervous system causing weakness and confusion.

● Tomato (leaves and stems)

Same as the leaves and stems of the potato plant, causes weakness and confusion.

● Castor Bean

Flowering plant that is the source of Castor Oil.  The seeds contain the toxin ricin and are considered extremely toxic.  Smaller doses of ricin can also be found throughout the plant.

● Mistletoe Berries

A hemi-parasitic plant that grows within trees or shrubs.  Causes stomach pain, diarrhea, low pulse and can sometimes be fatal.

● Choke Cherry (unripe berries)

Native to North America grows as a small tree or shrub.  Eating the unripe berries can cause confusion.  Broken limbs or branches release cyanide making the plant sweet.  Consumption can be fatal.

● Amaryllis bulb (Bella Donna Lily or Naked Ladies)

Native to south Africa usually sold in the winter months for indoor blooming.

● Azalea

Flowering shrubs that bloom in the spring with the flowers dying a few weeks later. Symptoms produce stomach irritation, abdominal pain, abnormal heart rate, convulsions, coma and sometimes death.

● Delphinium (Larkspur, Monkshood)

Flowering plant native throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

● Chrysanthemum (or mums)

A flowering perennial native to Asia and northeastern Europe. Natural source of pyrethrins.

● Buckeye (horse chestnuts)

Trees and shrubs native to the Northern Hemisphere. The nuts contain a toxin called aesculin and is destructive to red blood cells.

Respiratory

● Hydrangea

Flowering plants native to southern and eastern Asia. Mildly toxic, contains cyanide.

● Jimson Weed (augushka, ditch weed, stink weed, loco weed, Korean morning glory, Jamestown weed, thorn apple, angel’s trumpet, devil’s trumpet, beelzebub’s twinkie, devil’s snare, devil’s seed, mad hatter, crazy tea, malpitte)

A weed that is sometimes used as a hallucinogen. Over use can cause serious illness or death. All parts of the plant are toxic.

● Elder berry (unripe berries)

Small trees or shrubs in the honeysuckle family.

● Heavenly Bamboo (sacred) 

Native to eastern Asia. All parts contain hydrocyanic acid and can be fatal if ingested.  Widely used as ornamental plants in gardens.

● Dumb Cane (dieffenbachia)

Popular as a houseplant because they love shade.  The cells in this plant contain needle shape crystals that if chewed can cause a mild burning sensation.  If ingested it can cause swelling, drooling and irritation.  The toxins are never fatal and can usually be treated.

Stomach/Small, Large Intestines

● Amaryllis bulb see above

● Azalea see above

● Bird of Paradise

perennial plant native to South Africa.

● Crocus bulb see above

● Castor Bean  see above

● Chrysanthemum see above

● Bittersweet (nightshade, blue bindweed, climbing nightshade, fellewort, felonwood, poisonberry, poisonflower, scarlet berry, snakeberry, trailing bittersweet, violet bloom, woody nightshade)

Native to Europe and Asia but widespread in North America.  A highly invasive weed.  Highly toxic and can cause hallucinations, drowsiness, numbness, rapid heartbeat, weak pulse, incoordination, paralysis, bloat or death.

● Buckeye see above

● Boxwood 

An evergreen shrub or small tree.  Very popular ornamental plant in gardens.

● English Ivy 

Climbing evergreen woody plants.  Less toxic than poison ivy but can cause allergic reactions on skin.

● Tomatoes (leaves and stem) see above

● Spurge

A succulent plant originating from Africa.   Contains resiniferatoxin that produces an irritating effect 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger than capsaicin (substance found in chilies)

● Rosary Pea see above

● Potato (leaves and stems) see above

● Pencil Cactus

The white sap can cause burning or irritation of the skin.

● Narcissus (daffodil)

Mostly a spring flower but some can bloom in the fall.  Contains alkaloid poisons in the bulbs but also a small amount in the leaves

● Marijuana (hemp) see above

● Iris Corms 

The corm is an underground plant stem that acts as storage during winter or droughts.

● Holly berries

Berries of the holly plant that may cause vomiting or diarrhea.

● Clematis

Flowering , climbing plant deciduous in cooler climates and evergreens in the warmer climates.  Can cause internal bleeding of the digestive tract if large amounts are ingested.

● Hyacinth bulbs

Spikes of dense blue flowers that resemble bunches of grapes.  May cause diarrhea if ingested.

● Cyclamen bulb

Common outdoor and indoor plant.  Native to the Mediterranean region.

● Croton

Native to Southeast Asia.  Used to make croton oil which can be found in facial chemical peels.

Toxins Affecting the Heart

● Yew 

A conifer native to western, central and southern Europe. All parts of the plants are toxic even if broken or wilted.  Symptoms may include muscle tremors, convulsions, staggering gait, difficulty breathing and heart failure.  Death is so rapid that many times the symptoms are missed.

● Rosary Pea see above

● Oleander

Evergreen shrub or small plant that is one of the most poisonous plants known.  Small amounts can have lethal effects.  Every part of the plant is toxic and can cause death.  Ingestion can cause both gastrointestinal and cardiac effects.  This includes vomiting, excess saliva, diarrhea, abdominal pain, irregular heart rate, pale extremities due to poor circulation, seizures, collapse, shaking of muscles, all of which can lead to death.

● Mountain Laurel  (spoonwood)

Native to eastern United States.  The green parts of the plant, the flowers and the twigs are all toxic.  Ingestion produces symptoms of depression, salivation, vomiting, repeated swallowing, irregular breathing, frequent defecation, convulsions, weakness uncoordination, watery eyes, distress, coma and even death.

● Mistletoe Berries see above

● Milkweed (butterfly flower, silkweed, silky swallow-wort, virginia silkweed) 

Native to most of North America.  Favorite plant of the Monarch butterfly.  Leaves and seed pods contain the toxins.

● Lily-of-the-Valley

Native to the Northern Hemisphere in Asia and Europe.  Limited in Eastern US. All parts of the plant including the berries are highly poisonous.  About 38 different cardiac toxins have been found in this plant among other different types of toxins.

● Avocado  (palta, aguacate, butter pear, alligator pear) 

A tree native to the Caribbean , Mexico , South America and Central America.  The leaves, bark, skin and pit are all toxic.  Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, congestion, respiratory problems, fluid around the heart and death.

● Bleeding Heart  (Venus’s car, Dutchman’s trousers, lyre flower)

Native to eastern Asia.  Its flowers resemble a heart shape.  Popular ornamental plant in gardens.

● Foxglove

Native to Europe. Often grown as an ornamental plant. The entire plant is toxic with symptoms of ingestion including vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, hallucinations, delirium, slow pulse and cardiac disturbances.
 
● Castor Bean see above

● Kolanchoe

Succulent plant native to the Old World. Common houseplant that can cause cardiac poisoning.

● Azalea see above

● Autumn Crocus see above