Plant Hazards

Checklist of Plants Poisonous to Small Animals The Animal Poison Control Center recently published a list of some of the more common poisonous outdoor plants. Dr. Charlotte Means, the director of toxicology for the center, indicated that the actual risk from plants can vary widely and is dependent on factors such as the plant part that was ingested and the type of plant ingested; it can also vary by animal type (cat versus dog), age and activity of the companion animal. According to Dr. Means, “It’s a dose that makes a poison”. Depending on the pets that you own and their risk of exposure, sometimes the best strategy may be to not plant certain plant species. As an example, all members of the lily family (daylilies and Asian lilies) and all parts of the lily plant are highly toxic to cats. Removal would be the most prudent thing to do as it pertains to outdoor cats and lily propagation. The National Animal Poison Control Center phone number is 888-426-4435. Staff is available 24 hours each day to assist pet owners and veterinarians with any poisonous product or suspected intoxication. Their website address is aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control.

Here is a list obtained from the Animal Poison Control website:

Azalea begonia

Black walnut

English ivy

Caladium

Calla lily

Chrysanthemum

Clematis

Coleus

Daffodil

Dahlia

Daisy

English holly

Foxglove

Geranium

Gladiola

Hellebore

Hydrangea

Iris

Lantana

Lavender

Laurel

Lilly of the valley

Milkweed

Mint

Nandina

Rhododendron

Vinca

Yew

Wisteria

Authored by RobertZ Berry, DVM. Source material – Animal Poison Control