While plants add a touch of color and fragrance to our daily lives they also inject an element of danger into the lives of our pets. More the 700 plants have been identified as producing physiologically active or toxic substances in sufficient amounts to cause harmful effects in animals. Poisonous plants of some variety are indigenous to most places in the United States. Poisonous plants also are commonly kept as houseplants or used in landscape properties. Luckily, most pets are exposed to only a limited number of poisonous plants and problems can be prevented by avoiding these plants. Poisonous plants produce a variety of toxic substances and cause reactions ranging from mild nausea to death. Certain animal species may have a peculiar vulnerability to a potentially poisonous plant.

Prevention is the key. Provide your pet with safe plants such as lettuce, tomatoes, green beans, or carrots to eat; this should decrease the consumption of undesirable plants. Walk pets on a leach and observe them carefully to prevent consumption of wild unidentified plants. Finally, landscape your yard with pet safe flowers and shrubs. Your dog or cat will be safer if you prevent plant poisonings rather than try to treat them.

Awareness is second best. Always ask at the nursery if the plants you are considering buying would be toxic if eaten by your pets. If the employees cannot answer your questions, do not purchase the plant. Other sources of information in your area are your local veterinarian, your county extension officer, the local library or bookstore, and your poison control center.

If you take your pets on nature walks, a plant identification book small enough to carry with you can be invaluable. Some plant identifications books include color pictures and are more helpful then those that only contain written descriptions or black and white pictures or drawings. Most cases of plant poisoning can only be diagnosed by identifying the plants eaten. This is done by examining the remains of partially eaten plants or by examining stomach contents. You should be able to recognize poisonous plants at various stages of growth and to identify which portion or portions of the plant are toxic. Plant poisons can act rapidly with some causing convulsions and death in as little as 15 minutes. There is no universal antidote for plant poisonings, so rapid identification and prompt veterinary medical treatment is always indicated.

Listed below are some of the common plants, which may produce a toxic reaction in animals. This list is intended only as a guide to plants which are generally identified as having the capability for producing a toxic reaction.

Please feel free to print the list and keep it nearby or for future reference.

Below is a partial list of commonly found poisonous plants broken down into degrees of toxicity. If you have questions or concerns about a specific plant, contact your local florist or nursery and speak with your veterinarian for further information.

Poisonous Plants:

Category A           Sometimes produces diarrhea and or vomiting

• Bittersweet woody                          
• Caster bean
• Daffodil
• Delphinium
• Fox glove
• Ground cherry
• Indian turnip
• Larkspur
• Poke week
• Skunk cabbage
• Wisteria

Category B           Causes Rash or irritation after skin contact

• Chrysanthemum
• Creeping fig
• Poinsettia
• Pop mum
• Spider mum
• Weeping fig

Category C           Irritating: Mouth may become swollen, sore lips, and tongue pain

• Arrowhead vine
• Boston ivy
• Caladium
• Drunk cane
• Emerald duke
• Pathos
• Philodendron
• Red princess

Category D           Toxic – may cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps. Some can cause tumors, heart and respiratory and or kidney problems

• Amaryllis
• Asparagus fern
• Azalea
• Bird of paradise
• Creeping Charlie
• Crown of thorns
• Elephant ears
• Glocal ivy
• Heart ivy
• Pot mum
• Spider mum
• Umbrella plant

Category E           Trees and shrubs that may produce abdominal pain and diarrhea

• Almond
• American yew
• Apricot
• Balsam pear
• Black locust
• Cherry
• English holly
• English yew
• House chestnut buckeye
• Japanese plum
• Mock orange
• Peach
• Privet
• Western yew

Category F           Hallucinogens

• Loco week
• Marijuana
• Morning glory
• Nutmeg
• Periwinkle
• Peyote

Category G           Cause convulsions

• China berry
• Coriaria
• Moonweed
• Water hemlock

Category H           Plants with varied toxic effects

• Buttercup
• Dutchman's breeches
• Jasmine
• Lupine
• Matrimony vine
• May apple
• Mescal bean
• Mushrooms
• Poison hemlock
• Rhubarb
• Spinach
• Tomato vine

The following is a list of commonly encountered poisonous HOUSEHOLD plants:

The following is a list of commonly encountered poisonous OUTDOOR plants: