We love our pets and want them to have the best possible quality of life. When a pet spends its life outdoors, it can fall victim to various types of aggression, whether from other animals, humans, parasites, the environment…
But it’s wrong to think that an indoor pet is safe, and that your apartment is the healthiest and safest place for it to live. Toxic sources can lurk just about anywhere in your home, and it’s vital to be able to identify them.
The main source of poisoning for pets is plants, including those you may have at home. Today, we take a look at 9 dangerous (but common) plants for our pets (especially our cats and dogs).
1. The Ficus
Like all plants in the Ficaceae family, ficus is one of the most common plants found in apartments. By eating or chewing it, your pet will become intoxicated.
It’s the latex it contains that makes Ficus so harmful to animals. It should be noted that this plant is particularly toxic for cats, who can develop intestinal problems like other animals, as well as facial edema and kidney damage.
2. The avocado
Who hasn’t grown an avocado at home? It’s the easiest plant to grow: just place the stone flush with the surface of the water until the roots start to grow, and all you have to do is put it in the ground – child’s play!
Ingestion of avocado flesh or leaves can be very harmful to birds, dogs and, to a lesser extent, cats. This plant can cause digestive problems in the hours following ingestion, as well as cardiovascular problems.
3. Yews
Whether they come from Japan, Florida or Canada, yew trees are dangerous for your pets. They are non-coniferous conifers regularly found in parks and gardens. The toxic principles are present throughout the plant, except in the flesh of the fruits, which are small red berries.
The seeds, on the other hand, are quite toxic. This plant is therefore more harmful to herbivorous animals and birds. Toxicity is heightened in winter, and even cut and/or dried branches are toxic. This plant can be fatal if ingested in large quantities. Just a small amount is enough to poison your pet. A rabbit will only need to eat 20gr of Yew to die.
4. The oleander
Oleander is one of the most common potted plants on our terraces and balconies. Yet it is one of the deadliest plants for animals. For example, a small dog weighing 10kg will only have to eat 2 or 3 leaves to die. All parts of this plant are toxic and lethal to animals.
Symptoms are digestive, nervous and cardiac, and can appear within 2 hours of ingestion and worsen over several days. It is advisable to treat your pet as soon as possible after ingestion, but in any case recovery will be long and difficult.
5. Lily of the Valley
You wouldn’t think that this pretty, delicate, bell-shaped flower could be deadly to animals. And yet it is.
The plant contains substances that irritate the digestive tract, as well as derivatives that are toxic to the heart. The animals most affected are mainly cats, but also dogs, rodents and birds. The whole plant is toxic, and remains so even after it has been dried, so you should also be careful, as even the water in the vase becomes toxic.
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6. Rhododendrons
Rhododendron is mainly known for being toxic to goats. But dogs and cats can also fall victim to this plant’s toxicity.
It is dangerous because it contains andromedotoxin, which has the same effects on the body as curare. In other words, ingesting this plant will cause varying degrees of paralysis of the muscles, including the heart. This will obviously jeopardize your pet’s health.
7. Holly
Whether it’s the leaves or the berries, everything is toxic to all animal species. It’s even toxic to humans, which is why it’s important to ensure that children don’t ingest holly fruit.
Eating holly can cause vomiting and digestive problems. If ingested in large quantities, it may even cause neurological disorders.
8. Grapes, a dangerous fruit for our animals.
It’s certainly not a plant you’d grow in an apartment, but it’s a fruit that our pets may encounter in our kitchen. Although grapes are excellent for humans, they’re not at all good for your pets.
The species most sensitive to this fruit are dogs, cats and ferrets. Raisins are just as toxic as fresh grapes. Ingestion of grapes by an animal will mainly result in kidney damage. One bunch of grapes can be enough to kill a dog.
9. Lilies, a dangerous plant, especially for cats.
The lily is often found in our homes as part of the composition of flower bouquets. Although the lily flower is very beautiful, this plant is toxic to our pets, especially cats, who are often attracted to it. But dogs are also affected.
If your pets chew on any part of the plant, they’ll become intoxicated… and even if they lick the plant’s pollen. The ingestion of a single leaf can be fatal for cats.
Don’t forget to call your vet directly if you have the slightest doubt about your pet’s ingestion of any plant, or if you notice any abnormal behavior in your pet (weakness, vomiting, etc.). The Animal Poison Control website can also give you more information on this subject.