Garden plants to watch out for if you have pets

There are a variety of plants that are poisonous to cats and dogs.  If your pet has ingested any of these plants you need to call your vet and get their advice. If you are asked to come in - please bring a sample of the plant that your pet has ingested. Know what part of the plant they ate and how much of it they ate if possible.

Here are a few (of many) to be aware of. 

This first warning is for CATS: Lilies such as tiger, Easter or wood lilies.  Eating or even sipping a few drops of water that the Lilies  have been standing in can cause kidney failure in cats. An Amaryllis looks like a Lillie in some ways but is both toxic to cats and dogs.

Begonias, especially the tubers if eaten by a dog or cat, will cause numbness of the tongue and lips, vomiting and difficulty breathing. Plant bulbs of any kind are considered hazardous to animals.

Daffodils, Jonquils and Narcissus flowers contain a poison called Lycorine (a crystalline alkaloid) but the bulb is the most poisonous.  They can cause vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions and abnormal breathing and heart rate.

Oleander is poisonous to cats, dogs and humans.  Ever read the book “White Oleander?” There have been reports of people dying from using Oleander sticks to hold their hotdogs on at a bonfire. Foxglove is like Oleander.  Can be fatal to cats, dogs and humans.

Rhododendrons and Azaleas are poisonous to both cats and dogs. Because they contain Grayanotoxins (a toxin found in the nectar of  the plant) which interfere with muscle function.  The heart is a muscle. The good news is most pets won’t eat enough of the plant to make themselves dangerously ill.

This is good information to know just in case you see your pet eating any of these toxic yard plants.

'The boy and the angel left the house together, and the dog came out with him and accompanied them.(Tobit 6.1)
 'When they reached Caserin close to Ninevah ... The dog went with the angel and Tobias, following at their heels.' (Tobit 11.2,4)