Plants and flowers poisonous to dogs and cats

Plants and flowers brighten our homes and gardens throughout the seasons. We give them as gifts on Valentine’s Day, birthdays, and anniversaries. However, while beautiful, specific plants can be a danger to our furry friends. While some might just cause slight tummy upsets, others can have life-threatening consequences. While we shouldn’t stop enjoying green spaces, it’s important to know your plants and make sure to avoid keeping them in places your cat or dog frequently roams.

Below we have listed some of the most common plants which are dangerous to our beloved cats and dogs. It’s important to remember that not all parts of plants and flowers are hazardous to our pets, it could be the berries they drop or the bulbs they sprout from. Also, while you may notice certain plants can affect both dogs and cats, they can have very different symptoms and severities.

Note: This is not a complete list of all the plants in the UK which are poisonous to pets. If you are concerned your dog or cat has been affected by an unidentified plant, please contact your vet immediately.

Plants dangerous to dogs

Alliums

Parts which are toxic: All parts. Eating a plant from the allium family, such as leeks, garlic or onions, could cause anaemia, which can be fatal.

Aloe vera

Parts which are toxic: Leaves. Eating the spikey leaves from an aloe plant could cause vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, loss of appetite, changes in urine colour and in serve cases tremors.

Azalea

Parts which are toxic: All parts, especially the flowers. Eating a part of the shrub can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, a reduced appetite, weakness and in extreme circumstances cardiac failure which could result in death.

Bluebells

Parts which are toxic: All parts. Eating these pretty bell-shaped plants can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. If eaten in large quantities this could lead to dehydration.

Daffodils

Parts which are toxic: Bulbs are highly poisonous, leaves and flowers are harmful. Eating these springtime flowers could lead to drooling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, breathing issues and in severe cases it could cause heart irregularities or seizures.

Devil's ivy

Parts which are toxic: Leaves and steam. These hardy houseplants which are loved for their cascading leaves could lead to oral irritation such as burning or a swollen mouth or tongue, drooling, vomiting and trouble swallowing.

Fox gloves

Parts which are toxic: All parts. While an important source of pollen for bees, this tall flower plant could cause vomiting, diarrhoea, irregular heart rate, and possible death if eaten by your dog.

Jade plant

Toxic parts: All parts. The jade plant, also known as the lucky or money plant, commonly found in homes could cause vomiting, lethargy, depression and loss of coordination if consumed by your dog.

Lily of the valley

Toxic parts: All parts. This sweet-smelling plant with bell shaped flowers could cause vomiting, diarrhoea, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, disorientation and fainting if eaten.

Monstera

Toxic parts: All parts. Renowned for its distinctive glossy, holey leaves, these plants could cause drooling, mouth irritation, vomiting and swelling of the tongue or lips if chewed by your dog.

Peace lily

Toxic parts: All parts. Known for their elegant flowers and air purifying qualities, eating these plants could cause oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, pawing at the mouth. Unlike lilies, this plant is not fatal.

Snake plant

Toxic parts: All parts. While these plants are low maintenance, eating these plants can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy.

Tomatoes

Toxic parts: Unripe fruits, leave and steam. As a member of the nightshade family, eating unripe tomatoes or the plant’s leaves or stem could cause vomiting, diarrhoea, confusion and in rare cases seizures.

Tulips

Toxic parts: Bulbs. This brightly coloured flowers shout spring but eating the bulb of a tulip could cause drooling, mouth irritation, vomiting, diarrhoea and difficulty breathing.

Wisteria

Toxic parts: Pods and seeds. Eating the pods and seeds of this climbing plant, which cascades pendants of scented flowers could cause vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and lethargy.

Yew

Toxic parts: All parts, apart from the red fleshy areas around the seeds. An evergreen tree with needle like leaves could cause vomiting, drooling, trouble breathing, tremors, seizures and in extreme cases sudden death due to heart failure, if any part is eaten by your dog.

Plants dangerous to cats

Alliums

Toxic parts: All parts. Eating a plant from the allium family, such as leeks, garlic or onions, could cause damage to red blood cells and anaemia, which can be fatal.

Aloe vera

Toxic part: Gel, sap and skin on the leaves. Eating the skin of an aloe’s spikey leaves or the gel inside them could cause vomiting, lethargy, diarrhoea and changes to urine colour to our precious felines.

Azalea

Toxic parts: Grayanotoxins in leaves and flowers. Eating parts of this shrub can lead to vomiting, drooling, diarrhoea, lethargy and in serve cases comatisation or sudden death.

Daffodils

Toxic parts: Bulbs are highly poisonous, leaves and flowers are harmful. While these flowers might shout spring, eating the bulb or the flowers themselves could cause vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and can leave to potential cardiac arrhythmias.

English holly

Toxic parts: Saponins in berries and leaves. A common plant, we see in gardens and green outdoor spaces. Nibbling on the English holly’s berries or leaves could cause vomiting, diarrhoea and drooling.

Fox gloves

Toxic parts: All parts. Known for their colourful cones of flowers, fox gloves can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, abnormal heart rail and in extreme cases heart failure.

Hydrangea

Toxic parts: Cyanogenic glycosides (a compound which is released when digested or chewed). These balls of small flowers can cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy in small quantities. In higher quantities they can cause cyanide poisoning.

Jade plant

Toxic parts: All parts. All parts of the jade plant including its rubbery spoon shaped leaves can cause vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination.

Lilies

Toxic parts: All parts, including the pollen, leaves and flowers. A common plant in bouquets, ingesting any part of a lily can cause vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, increased thirst and in cases which are left untreated kidney failure which can be fatal.

Monstera

Toxic parts: All parts. Including the roots. Renowned for its distinctive glossy, holey leaves, eating these plants can cause oral irritation including burning and inflammation of the mouth, lips and tongue, drooling, difficulty swallowing, vomiting and in extreme cases swelling of the throat which may cause breathing difficulties.

Peace lily

Toxic parts: All parts. Including stem, leaves and flowers. Consuming all parts of these elegant, glossy leaved plants can cause oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing and in extreme cases swelling of the airways.

Philodendron

Toxic parts: All parts. Including the roots. A popular, low-maintenance house plant with tropical foliage, the philodendron can cause oral irritation, drooling, difficulty swallowing and vomiting.

Tulips

Toxic parts: Bulbs, stems and leaves. If digested these cup shape blooms can cause gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in serve cases central nervous system issues.

Yew

Toxic parts: Leaves, seeds and berries. Consuming the leaves, seeds or berries of a yew could cause vomiting, difficulty breathing, seizures, and heart failure which is often fatal.

What to do if you think your dog or cat has been poisoned by a plant

If you think your dog has eaten a poisonous plant or flower and experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, contact your vet immediately. If possible, bring a clipping of the plant to your appointment.