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Amaryllis
Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression, appetite loss, tremors, drooling and abdominal pain.
Azaleas
Can cause weakness, upset stomach, drooling, heart failure, depression and possible coma.
Christmas Tree Pine Needles
Can produce oral irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, trembling and posterior weakness.
Chrysanthemum
Results in vomiting, diarrhea, depression, drooling and appetite loss.
Daffodil
Can cause severe gastrointestinal illness, convulsions, seizures, low blood pressure and tremors.
Easter Cactus
Can cause vomiting, diarrhea and depression. Can cause staggering in cats.
Holly
Commonly found during the Christmas season, can cause intense vomiting, diarrhea and depression.
Hyacinth
Can cause intense vomiting, diarrhea, depression and tremors.
Lilies
Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression and kidney failure.
Mistletoe
Another Christmas plant, ingestion can cause significant vomiting and diarrhea, difficulty breathing, collapse, erratic behavior, hallucinations and death.
Mulch with Cocoa Beans
Dogs are attracted to the noticeable scent of chocolate and can consume a great quantity, which can lead to restlessness, hyperactivity, muscle twitching, increased urination, excessive panting, increased heart rate and blood pressure levels and seizures.
Oleander
May cause vomiting, heart failure and possible death.
Poinsettia
Can cause irritation to the mouth and stomach and sometimes vomiting.
Sago Palm
Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures and liver failure.
Tulip
Can cause intense vomiting, depression, diarrhea, drooling and appetite loss.
The arrival of summer and warmer weather usually means our pets spend more time outdoors. But keep in mind that there are hazards outdoors, even in our own backyard. Here are some tips and info to help keep your pets safe this summer:
Store all insecticides and pesticides in their original packaging and away from pets. The National Pesticide Information Center (800-858-7378) can help you make informed decisions about pesticide use.
The most dangerous forms of pesticides include: slug and snail bait (containing metaldehyde), fly bait, systemic insecticides, mole or gopher bait, and rat poisons. Dogs can be attracted to slug bait that contains metaldehyde. Signs of poisoning include tremors, seizures, shaking, vomiting, hyper-salivation, rapid heart rate, and abdominal pain. If your pet ingests slug bait, contact your veterinarian immediately!!
Use caution with newer "pet-safe" slug baits containing iron. These products are toxic to pets and can initially cause gastrointestinal signs.
Ingestion of even small amounts of certain plants (for example, rhododendron, azalea, oleander, lily, or yew) can be harmful or fatal to a pet.
Before applying a chemical to your lawn or in your yard, consider whether natural, organic or chemical-free products might be just as effective for your intended use.
Do not let your pets in the yard while applying chemicals. Wait until chemicals have dried and even up to four days after application before allowing a pet into the area. Pets who lick their paws after walking on treated areas can be poisoned.
Ingesting cocoa mulch can be toxic. Also, compost contains bacteria that can cause tremors and seizures in pets who ingest it. Keep your pets away from compost piles.
A common cause of pet poisoning in the summer months is improper use or application of flea and tick products. Use such products responsibly and according to package instructions. Overuse and misuse can be deadly.
Never use a product on cats that is intended for dogs. Never apply 45-65% permethrin "spot-on" products to cats, even in small amounts. Highly concentrated permethrin can be extremely toxic to cats.
All flea and tick "spot-on" products (even ones with nearly identical brand names) are NOT alike. Check the label to identify the active ingredient before you apply it.
Sometimes home is where the hurt is.This page includes tips for keeping your pet safe around the house.
Recently Discovered Toxic Foods
During the past few years, a number of everyday food items that are safe for people have been found to cause illness and death when ingested by pets.
Several of these are surprising because they have been reported only recently.
Grapes, raisins, and plums:A number of dogs have died from kidney failure after eating a moderate amount of grapes or raisins. The reason for this fatal reaction is unclear, but we recommend NOT giving your dog or cat either grapes or raisins. Plums are suspected of possibly causing similar problems.
Xylitol: Sugarless gums, mouthwashes, and other low-sugar human items include this sugar substitute. Dogs (and probably cats) develop either severe low blood sugar or liver failure. Cases of Xylitol poisoning reported to the poison control centers have increased dramatically in the past year. Care should be taken to keep pets away from any product that contains Xylitol as an artificial sweetener.
Blue Cheese Poisoning: Overly ripe Roquefort or Blue cheese develops a toxin (named roquefortine) that can be fatal. Be careful when you throw away that old chunk of cheese that has been in the back of your refrigerator since last year!
Bread dough: Dogs have been poisoned by ingesting raw bread dough, especially sourdough. Don't leave it unprotected on the counter if your dog is nearby.
Macadamia Nuts: Even a small amount of these nuts can cause a fatal poisoning in dogs and cats.
Black Walnuts: These nuts have also been implicated in pet poisonings.
Onions and onion powder:Cats are particularly susceptible to anemia from onions. Even human baby foods, often used for cats that won't eat, may contain amounts of onion that can destroy the cat's red blood cells and cause anemia. Garlic can cause simliar problems.
Chocolate: The toxicity of chocolate has been known for years, and it has been somewhat over-dramatized. Chocolate contains a stimulant similar to caffeine, and dogs and cats are much more sensitive to this stimulant than are humans. If a dog is sensitive to the stimulant it may act nervous and jittery, or may develop seizures. Death can result, but most reactions are like a human who ingests 10 cups of expresso. The fat content of chocolate can also be dangerous to the dog that is susceptible to pancreatitis. Keep the chocolate for yourself!
