PET HEALTH ALERT: 10 MOST COMMON POISONOUS PLANTS
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ASPCA News Alert Thursday, January 26, 2006
Welcome to ASPCA News Alert, the weekly newsletter of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
PET HEALTH ALERT: 10 MOST COMMON POISONOUS PLANTS
Last year, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center handled more than 100,000 cases, providing assistance to pet owners and treatment recommendations to veterinarians regarding chemicals, plants and products that are potentially harmful to pets. APCC experts recently shared with us a list of the ten most common poisonous plants, based on their caseloads. Among the top ten:
And remember, if you suspect that your animal companion may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, please call your veterinarian or the APCC's emergency hotline at (888) 426-4435 for round-the-clock telephone assistance.
Ten Most Common Poisonous Plants
Make Your Pet's Home Poison-Safe! Keep your pet poison-safe with our 10 helpful tips.
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Lilies
Members of the Lilium spp. are considered to be highly toxic to
cats. While the poisonous component has not yet been identified, it
is clear that with even ingestions of very small amounts of the
plant, severe kidney damage could result.
Marijuana
Ingestion of Cannabis sativa by companion animals can result in
depression of the central nervous system and incoordination, as
well as vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, increased heart rate, and
even seizures and coma.
Sago Palm
All parts of Cycas Revoluta are poisonous, but the seeds or 'nuts'
contain the largest amount of toxin. The ingestion of just one or
two seeds can result in very serious effects, which include
vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures and liver failure.
Tulip/Narcissus bulbs
The bulb portions of Tulipa/Narcissus spp. contain toxins that can
cause intense gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of
appetite, depression of the central nervous system, convulsions and
cardiac abnormalities.
Azalea/Rhododendron
Members of the Rhododenron spp. contain substances known as
grayantoxins, which can produce vomiting, drooling, diarrhea,
weakness and depression of the central nervous system in animals.
Severe azalea poisoning could ultimately lead to coma and death
from cardiovascular collapse.
Oleander
All parts of Nerium oleander are considered to be toxic, as they
contain cardiac glycosides that have the potential to cause serious
effects' including gastrointestinal tract irritation, abnormal
heart function, hypothermia and even death.
Castor Bean
The poisonous principle in Ricinus communis is ricin, a highly
toxic protein that can produce severe abdominal pain, drooling,
vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, weakness and loss of
appetite. Severe cases of poisoning can result in dehydration,
muscle twitching, tremors, seizures, coma and death.
Cyclamen
Cylamen species contain cyclamine, but the highest concentration of
this toxic component is typically located in the root portion of
the plant. If consumed, Cylamen can produce significant
gastrointestinal irritation, including intense vomiting. Fatalities
have also been reported in some cases.
Kalanchoe
This plant contains components that can produce gastrointestinal
irritation, as well as those that are toxic to the heart, and can
seriously affect cardiac rhythm and rate.
Yew
Taxus spp. contains a toxic component known as taxine, which causes
central nervous system effects such as trembling, incoordination,
and difficulty breathing. It can also cause significant
gastrointestinal irritation and cardiac failure, which can result
in death.
© 2006 The ASPCA