We love our pets. And we’ll go to any length to keep them healthy no matter the cost. But there are dangers lurking in our homes, our yards, and even our kitchens that can harm our pets. From popular bouquet flowers to everyday garden plants to food we eat on a regular basis, the dangers posed to our pets are ubiquitous. With a dose of knowledge of these potential hazards, we are in a better position to take precautions, keeping our pets safe and healthy.
Dangerous Plants Indoors
Popular holiday plants can pose a danger to animals. The lily family includes flowers that are poisonous to our pets. While it’s more common for cats to suffer poisoning from lilies, the flower is poisonous to dogs, as well. Maybe skip the lilies during spring holidays.
Winter holiday decorative plants also pose risks to our pets. While the taste may prevent animals from eating American and English Holly, please keep them far from the reach of your pets. They are toxic to animals. Also, Mistletoe is poisonous to animals. And Poinsettias can irritate the mouth and stomach of animals if ingested.
And while it’s lovely to keep fresh cut flowers in our homes, be aware of the dangers these flowers can pose to our four legged children. Common bouquet flowers that can make both dogs and cats sick if ingested include baby’s breath, bird of paradise, carnations, daffodils, dahlias, daisies, irises, and peonies. Keep these flowers out of reach from your pets. You may even need to lock up your bouquets when you leave your home to ensure your pets can’t access these dangerous flowers.
Dangerous Plants Outdoors
A surprising number of popular plants for our spring and fall gardens can harm our pets. When landscaping your yard, keep in mind there are several outdoor plants that are toxic to your pets. Remember the following plants that are poisonous to your pets when planning your garden:
- Azalea
- Buttercups
- Chrysanthemums
- Gardenias
- Gladiolas
- Hibiscus
- Hyacinth
- Hydrangeas
- Ivy
- Mums
- Primroses
- Rhododendrons
- Sweet Peas
- Wisteria
Also, the leaves of trees like Red Maples and Yews are toxic to pets, especially the leaves of Wilted Red Maple with poisonings taking place mostly during late summer into early winter.
Dangerous Foods
The following foods can cause your pet discomfort, vomiting, and even death if ingested:
- Apple Seeds
- Avocado
- Bread Dough – Raw
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Ethanol (Ethyl Alcohol)
- Garlic
- Grapes
- Hops
- Macadamia Nuts
- Mold (Food w/ mold growing on it)
- Mushrooms
- Mustard Seeds
- Onions
- Pits – Apricot, Cherry, Peach
- Potato Leaves
- Raisins
- Rhubarb Leaves
- Salt
- Tea
- Tomato Leaves & Stems
- Walnuts
- Xylitol (sweetener found in sugar-free gum)
The plants and foods listed in this post are the more common items that pets eat. If your pet ingests a plant or food that upsets their stomach, call your veterinarian.
