A common household plant with excellent healing properties for us humans, aloe vera is toxic to both cats and dogs.
Toxin: Anthraquinones
Toxicity level: Mild to moderate
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhoea, depression, changes in the colour of urine, tremors
There are over 1,000 species of rhododendrons/azaleas. Azaleas are the smaller species, and the large shrubs are the rhododendrons which are the more toxic. All parts of this plant can be poisonous to cats and dogs.
Toxin: Grayantoxin
Toxicity level: Moderate to high
Symptoms: Drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, lack of appetite, abnormal heart rate, weakness, hypotension, depression, transient blindness, seizures
While most species of bamboo are safe, there are a couple which are toxic for our pets.
Toxic bamboos: False Bamboo and Lucky Bamboo (pictured)
Toxin: Cycanogenic glycosides
Toxicity level: Moderate
Symptoms: Weakness, lack of coordination, seizures, difficulties breathing
Part of the allium family, which includes onion, garlic and leeks, chives can be poisonous to both cats and dogs. Small amounts, particularly for dogs, may be safe. However, large amounts can be extremely toxic.
Toxin: N-propyl disulfide
Toxicity level: Mild
Symptoms: Drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, abdominal pain, elevated heart rate and breathing, weakness, collapse, pale gums
Vibrant in colour, the chrysanthemum is highly toxic to cats. It can also be toxic to dogs.
Toxin: Pyrethrins, sesquiterpene, lactones
Toxicity level: High
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhoea, lack of appetite
Toxic to cats and dogs.
Toxin: Terpenoid saponins
Toxicity level: Moderate
Symptoms: Vomiting, drooling, diarrhoea, abnormal heart rate, seizures
A bright and happy flower, the daffodil is highly toxic to cats and dogs.
Toxin: Lycorine
Toxicity level: Moderate to high
Symptoms: Drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, increase in heart rate, abdominal pain, abnormal breathing
Toxic to cats and dogs.
Toxic ferns: Asparagus Fern, Emerald Fern (pictured), Lace Fern, Plumosa Fern
Toxin: Unknown
Toxicity level: Mild to moderate
Symptoms: Skin irritation, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea
Holly may be the quintessential Christmas decoration, but unfortunately, both its leaves and berries are poisonous to our cats and dogs. It's best to keep pets away from all varieties of holly, but the Christmas and English varieties, in particular, can cause severe gastrointestinal upset when ingested. And with its spiky leaves, holly can also irritate the mouth and throat, causing pets to shake their heads excessively trying to rid themselves of it.
Toxin: Saponins, methylxanthines and cyanogens
Toxicity level: Moderate to high
Symptoms: Drooling, licking lips, upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhoea, appetite loss
These vibrant flowers, particularly the bulb, can be toxic to cats and dogs.
Toxin: Allergenic lactones
Toxicity level: Moderate to high
Symptoms: Drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, increased heart rate, difficulty or rapid breathing
This beautiful and colourful common garden shrub can be toxic to cats and dogs.
Toxin: Cyanogenic glycoside
Toxicity level: Mild
Symptoms: Lethargy, vomiting, diarrhoea
This vibrant flower is toxic to cats and dogs, especially the roots.
Toxin: Iridaceae
Toxicity level: Mild
Symptoms: Drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy
Certain species of ivy can be toxic to both cats and dogs. Foliage is more toxic than its berries.
Toxic ivy: Branching Ivy, English Ivy (pictured), Needlepoint Ivy
Toxin: Triterpenoid saponins
Toxicity level: Moderate
Symptoms: Diarrhoea, breathing difficulty, fever, excessive thirst, dilated pupils, weakness, hyperactivity
Lilies from the lilium and hemerocallis families are highly toxic to cats. All parts of the plant are toxic and if left untreated lily intoxication causes acute renal failure within 12-36 hours. Cats only need to ingest a very small amount to be affected. Lilies are mildly toxic to dogs, but their reactions are not quite so severe.
Toxic lilium lilies: Asiatic, Easter Lily, Japanese Show, Rubrum, Stargazer Lily, Red, Tiger Lily (pictured), Western, Wood lilies
Toxic hemerocallis lilies: Day Lily
Toxin: Unknown
Toxicity level: High
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, lethargy, excessive thirst
Do you hang mistletoe at Christmas? If you use the American variety be aware the berries from this festive plant if ingested by our pooches and feline friends can cause mild gastrointestinal signs. If a large amount is ingested symptoms can become more severe.
Toxic mistletoe: Phoradendron serotinum (American variety) and Viscum album (European variety)
Toxin: Polysaccharides, alkaloids, and lectins
Toxicity level: Moderate to high
Symptoms: Drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, abnormal heart rate, collapse, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, seizures
All parts of this shrub with its delicate flower is highly toxic to both cats and dogs.
Toxin: Cardiac glycoside
Toxicity level: Moderate to high
Symptoms: Abnormal heart rate, drooling, vomiting, tremors, seizures
This blooming shrub with its large colourful flowers is toxic to cats and dogs.
Toxin: Paeonol
Toxicity level: Mild
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhoea
No plant quite says Christmas like the poinsettia does with its bright red, and sometimes white, leaves! While it may have a bad reputation for being highly poisonous to our furry friends, the poinsettia is in fact only mildly toxic to cats and dogs. For poinsettia poisoning to occur a large amount of the plant would have to be ingested - almost the entire plant!
Toxin: Irritant sap
Toxicity level: Mild
Symptoms: Drooling, licking lips, vomiting, diarrhoea, skin irritation, eye irritation
While the poppy is used as a symbol to honour the men and women who served and continue to serve, it can be toxic to cats and dogs.
Toxin: Alkoloids
Toxicity level: Mild to moderate
Symptoms: Change in behaviour (sedation or excitability), lack of appetite, dilated or pinpoint pupils
There are over 1,000 species of rhododendrons/azaleas. Azaleas are the smaller species, and the large shrubs are the rhododendrons which are the more toxic. All parts of this plant can be poisonous to cats and dogs.
Toxin: Grayantoxin
Toxicity level: Moderate to high
Symptoms: Drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, lack of appetite, abnormal heart rate, weakness, hypotension, depression, transient blindness, seizures
Did you know that all parts of this common tropical plant are toxic, with the seed being the most toxic part? This is the most common plant toxicity we see in our hospitals. Ingestion of even just one seed can cause severe illness. It is poisonous to both cats and dogs.
Toxin: Cycasin
Toxicity level: High
Symptoms: Drooling, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, seizures, tremors, lethargy, abdominal pain
These vibrant flowers, particularly the bulb, can be toxic to cats and dogs.
Toxin: Tulipalin A and B
Toxicity level: Moderate to high
Symptoms: Drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, increased heart rate, difficulty or rapid brething
This bright flowering shrub may look pretty but don't be fooled, all parts of this nightshade can be poisonous to cats and dogs.
Toxin: Brunfelsamidine and hopeanine
Toxicity level: Mild to moderate
Symptoms: Vomiting, anxious behaviour, coordination problems, tremors, seizures