Springtime Hazards for Dogs and Cats

Laurie Anne Walden, DVM

Easter lilies. Public domain image by Bruce Dupree, Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

The yellow pollen coating everything in Charlotte this week tells us that spring has finally arrived. For National Poison Prevention Week (the third week of March each year), here’s a short list of springtime pet hazards you should be aware of.
 
If your pet has been exposed to a possible toxin, contact a veterinary clinic or one of these pet poison resources:

• ASPCA Poison Control: (888) 426-4435, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control
• Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661, https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/

 
Plants
Common springtime plants that are dangerous for dogs and cats include lilies, daffodils, tulips, azaleas, and rhododendrons. See the ASPCA Poison Control website for a full list of toxic and nontoxic plants: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants
 
Lilies
True lilies are extremely toxic to cats and should never be brought into a home with cats. Easter lilies, daylilies, tiger lilies, Asiatic lilies, Oriental lilies, stargazer lilies, and other plants in the Lilium and Hemerocallis genera cause kidney failure in cats. Ingestion of small amounts of any part of these plants, including pollen or water from the vase, can be fatal to a cat.
 
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) and gloriosa or flame lily (Gloriosa superba) are highly toxic to both dogs and cats. Ingestion of lily of the valley causes heart rhythm abnormalities and possibly seizures, and ingestion of gloriosa lily causes multiple organ failure.
 
Some plants called lilies are much safer for cats and dogs. Calla lilies (Zantedeschia species), peace lilies (Spathiphyllum species), and Peruvian lilies (Alstroemeria species) can cause mouth irritation and stomach upset if ingested, but these plants are not highly toxic.
 
For more information about lilies, see No Lilies for Kitties on the Pet Poison Helpline website: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/veterinarians/free-resources-clinic-clients/no-lilies-for-kitties/
 
Daffodils
Ingestion of daffodils, jonquils, paperwhites, and other plants in the Narcissus genus can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and heart rhythm abnormalities (depending on the amount swallowed) in dogs and cats. The bulb is the most toxic part of these plants.
 
Tulips
Tulip ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling, and depression in dogs and cats. As with daffodils, the bulb is the most toxic part.
 
Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Azaleas and rhododendrons (Rhododendron species) contain a toxin that affects the function of the muscles, heart, and nerves. Dogs and cats that ingest these plants can develop vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, depression, loss of coordination, and possibly coma and death.
 
Fertilizers
Some fertilizers are dangerous if swallowed. Ingestion of blood meal can cause vomiting, diarrhea, severe pancreatitis, and iron toxicity (if the product is fortified with iron). Bone meal is tasty to dogs but can form a cement-like mass in the stomach that might require surgical removal. Some rose and plant fertilizers contain disulfoton and other organophosphates as pesticides. Organophosphate ingestion can cause seizures, trouble breathing, and death.
 
Spring Cleaning Products
Keep cleaning products, including “natural” products, out of reach of animals. Check product labels for warnings about use around animals, and follow label instructions for storage and use.
 
Undiluted bleach is (unsurprisingly) hazardous to animals; ingestion injures the mouth and esophagus. Very diluted bleach is safe to use as a cleaning solution—though not to be swallowed—if the cleaned object has been rinsed off afterward and the bleach odor has gone away.
 
Vinegar is not safe for animals to swallow but is safe for cleaning as long as the vinegar has been diluted with water and has been rinsed off the cleaned object. Enzyme-based cleaners can cause upset stomach if swallowed. Let objects cleaned with any of these solutions dry before animals have access to them.
 
Sources

• ASPCA Poison Control: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control
• Pet Poison Helpline: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/

 
Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/184594136@N08/50970877282/

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