Kids and pets and toxic plants are certainly not a good combination, and most of us would not knowingly combine them, of course! But recently I visited the new beautiful “dream home” of friends with a dog and a two-year old child, plus a baby on the way. The home and the grounds are absolutely gorgeous, until I spied not one or two, but FIVE Oleanders (Nerium spp.) along the side yard. I immediately expressed my concern, because Oleanders are highly toxic and I had removed a few from my own yard when I got a new puppy. Since that was actually Moving Day, the Realtor stopped by to check in and when my friend shared the news, they immediately made arrangements to have the nefarious plants removed!
This got me thinking … there are many other plants that are common and/or quite beautiful that many people do not realize are very dangerous for pets and/or children. Since they all have different toxicity levels, refer to the following resources to help you avoid them. Of course, if your pet ingests any of these, call your Vet immediately, and if your child ingests them, call your doctor or the Poison Control Center @ (800) 222-1222.
Safe and Poisonous Garden Plants: http://ucanr.edu/sites/poisonous_safe_plants/Toxic_Plants_by_common_Name_659/
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ccah/health_information/plants_pets.cfm
Pets and Toxic Plants
(the first 12 plants are responsible for the majority of calls to the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital about possible plant poisoning. The list was compiled by Director of Pharmacy, Dr. Valerie Wiebe)
- Lilies (Lilium, all spp.)
- Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
- Anemone (Anenome and Pulsatilla, family Ranunculaceae)
- Aloe Vera (family Liliaceae)
- Amaryllis (family Amaryllidaceaea, incl. Hippeastrum spp.)
- Asparagus Fern (family Liliaceae)
- Daffodil (Narcissus)
- Philodendrons
- Jade Plants (Crassula argentea).
- Chrysanthemums
- Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)
- Cycads (including Sago palm; cardboard palm; etc.)
Common plants that are highly toxic but only rarely ingested by pets include:
- Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia spp.)
- Castor bean (Ricinus communis)
- Daphne (Daphne spp.)
- Deathcamas & Meadow Deathcamas (Zigadenus venenosus)
- English yew (Taxus baccata)
- Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
- Jimson weed or Devil's Trumpet (many common names) (Datura spp.)
- Nicotiana/Tobacco plants (all spp.)
- Oleander (Nerium oleander)
- Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum)
- Pokeweed (Phytilacca americana)
- Tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca)
- Western water hemlock (Cicuta douglasii)
- Yew (Taxus cuspidata)
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