Protect pets from plants
Some common flowers, foliage are poisonous to animals

The month of March has been proclaimed National Animal Poison Control Month by the American Society for the Prevention for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In my last article we examined common household chemicals that are harmful to pets. In this second part of a three part series, we will examine common household and landscaping plants that could be harmful to your pets.
Below is a list of a few plants and their parts that have been proven harmful to pets.

• Common Yard Flowers and Foliage
• Caladium: All parts.
• Chrysanthemum: Leaves and stems
• Climbing lily: All parts extremely poisonous especially tubers
• Delphinium: All parts
• Elephant ears: All parts
• Four O'clocks: All parts
• Foxglove: All parts can be fatal
• Hydrangea: Whole plant
• Impatiens: All parts
• Ivy (all forms): All parts
• Lily of the valley: All parts
• Lobelia: All parts
• Lupine: All parts especially pods and seeds
• Magnolia: Flowers
• Marigold: Young leaves and stems especially poisonous
• Moccasin flower (lady slipper): All parts
• Morning glory: All parts
• Peony: All parts
• Periwinkle: All parts
• Pinks (sweet William, carnation): All parts
• Poppy: All parts
• Snapdragon: All parts
• Sweet Pea: All parts (especially seeds)
• Verbena: Foliage and flowers
• Wisteria: All parts_
• Common Shrubs
• Azaleas: All parts are fatal
• English holly: Berries may be fatal
• Evening trumpet flower - All parts
• Hibiscus: All parts
• Oleander: All parts
• Rhododendron: All parts are fatal especially leaves
• Yellow oleander: All parts (especially kernels of the fruit)_
• Garden Plants
• Asparagus: Berries and eating green shoots raw may cause dermatitis
• Eggplant: All but fruit
• Elderberry: All parts
• Fava bean: Raw or half cooked beans
• Horse bean: Raw or half cooked beans.
• Potato foliage: Eyes and sprouts can be fatal
• Lima bean (java bean): Uncooked bean
• Rhubarb: Leaves and uncooked stems
• Rosemary: Leaves in some species
• Sage: Leaves in some species
• Tomato plant: Leaves and vines
• Wild onion (also cultivated onion): All parts especially once they begin to decay.
• Wild parsnip: Underground roots and foliage_
• Fruit and Nut Trees
• Angel trumpet tree: Flowers, leaves juice and seeds
• Apple: Seeds, leaves and bark
• Apricot pits: Inner seed
• Avocado (alligator pear): Leaves, bark seeds, pit, unripe fruit and stems
• Balsam pear: Seeds, outer rind of fruit
• Black walnut: Hulls and bark
• Buckeye horse: Chestnut Buds, nuts, leaves, bark, seedlings, and honey
• Blackthorn: Fruit and bark
• Cashew: Shells contain a poisonous oil
• Cherry (wild and cultivated): Twigs, leaves, seed pits
• Fig (ficus): Milky sap in leaves and fruit.
• Nectarine: Seed inner pit only.
• Oak trees: Leaves and acorns.
• Peach: Inner seed, leaves and bark.
• Pear: Seeds, leaves and bark.
• Plums: Leaves, inner seeds and bark.
• Red oak buds: (fall) young shoots; (early spring) sprouts and acorns.
• Sorghum: All parts.
• Walnut: Outer green hulls.
• Wild black cherry (choke cherry, rum cherry): All parts (withered leaves are very poisonous.)

Remember, these are just a few of the plants that have been proven to be harmful to pets. There are more than 700 plants that have been identified as producing physiologically active or toxic substances that can be harmful to animals. Contact your veterinarian and/or the poison control center to find out information on the poisonous properties of a particular plant. It is important for pet owners to be aware of the plants they may have in their homes and yards that are dangerous to animals.
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The toll free telephone is (888) 426-4435. When you call, have the following information available: your name, address and telephone number; the type of plant and the amount the pet ingested; the species, breed, age, sex, weight and number of animals involved. It is also important to describe the symptoms your animal is experiencing. A $45 consultation fee may apply. To find out more on how to poison proof your home and yard for your pets, check online at www.aspca.org.
Eamon P. Riley is a professional dog trainer and animal behavioral consultant. For suggestions or comments, he can be emailed at dogmanusmc@aol.com or by calling 689-9483.