Most Flowers and Plants are meant to be a decorative element in our homes and gardens, not to be eaten by our family pets! You may be surprised to discover just how many popular flowers and plants are poisonous to your beloved pets.
Below is a handy pictorial guide to toxic plants forDogs, Cats and Horses. This guide includes pictures, popular flower/plant names as well as their scientific names, tells you which pet the flower/plant is toxic to and the symptoms to watch for, just in case.
Looking for details on a specific plant? Click a letter below to move directly to all of the plants listed under that letter.
Horses: Poisonings can occur when avocado groves are used as pastures, or pruned branches become accessible. The leaves, seeds fruit and bark are likely all toxic. Clinical effects occur mainly in mares, and includes noninfectious mastitis, as well as occasional gastritis and colic. Cattle: inflammation of the mammary glands, decreased milk production. Rabbits: inflammation of the mammary glands, decreased milk production, difficulty breathing, fluid around heart, heart rhythm problems, death. Goats: inflammation of the mammary glands, decreased milk production, difficulty breathing, fluid around heart, heart rhythm problems, death. Birds: difficulty breathing, fluid around heart, heart rhythm problems, death. Dogs, cats: vomiting, diarrhea.
Azalea
Other Common Names: Rosebay, Rhododendron
Scientific Name: Rhododendron spp
Family: Ericaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Horses
Symptoms:
Vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, weakness, coma, hypotension, CNS depression, cardiovascular collapse and death. Ingestion of a few leaves can cause serious problems. Rhododendron is typically not very palatable to horses unless it is the only forage available. The toxic principle interferes with normal skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle and nerve function. Clinical effects typically occur within a few hours after ingestion, and can include acute digestive upset, excessive drooling, loss of appetite, frequent bowel movements, diarrhea, colic, depression, weakness, loss of coordination, stupor, leg paralysis, weak heart rate and recumbency for 2 or more days; at this point, improvement may be seen or the animal may become comatose and die.
Baby’s Breath
Other Common Names: Maidens Breath
Scientific Name: Gypsophila elegans
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Symptoms:
vomiting, diarrhea.
Begonia
Scientific Name: Begonia spp
Family: Begoniaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Symptoms:
Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing. Tubers are the most toxic.
Bird of Paradise
Other Common Names: Crane Flower, Bird’s Tongue Flower
Scientific Name: Strelitzia reginae
Family: Strelitziaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Horses
Symptoms:
Mild nausea, vomiting, drowsiness; caused mainly by fruit and seeds. Should not be confused with Caesalpinia or Poinciana gilliesii, which is also known as Bird of Paradise and is more toxic.
Buttercup
Other Common Names: Butter Cress, Figwort
Scientific Name: Ranunculus sp.
Family: Ranunculaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Horses
Symptoms:
Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia, hyper-salivation and wobbly gait.
Calla Lily
Other Common Names: Pig Lily, White Arum, Trumpet Lily, Florist’s Calla, Garden Calla, Arum Lilly
Scientific Name: Zantedeschia aethiopica
Family: Araceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Symptoms:
Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
Carnation
Other Common Names: Pinks, Wild Carnation, Sweet Willian
Scientific Name: Dianthus caryophyllus
Family: Caryphyllaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Symptoms:
Mild gastrointestinal signs, mild dermatitis
Cherry
Scientific Name: Prunus species
Family: Rosaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Horses Causes:
Stems, leaves & seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting.
Symptoms
brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock.
Christmas Rose
Other Common Names: Hellebore, Lenten Rose, Easter Rose
Other Common Names: Hurricane Plant, Swiss Cheese Plant, Ceriman, Mexican Breadfruit, Split-leaf Philodendron, Window Leaf Plant
Scientific Name: Monstera deliciosa
Family: Araceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Symptoms:
Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
Cyclamen
Other Common Names: Sowbread
Scientific Name: Cyclamen spp
Family: Primulaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Symptoms:
Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea. Following large ingestions of tubers: heart rhythm abnormalities, seizures, death.
Daffodil
Other Common Names: Narcissus, Jonquil, Paper White
Scientific Name: Narcissus spp
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Horses
Symptoms:
Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias. Bulbs are the most poisonous part.
Symptoms:Panting, high body temperature, seizures, death.
Hosta
Other Common Names: Plantain Lily, Funkia
Scientific Name: Hosta plataginea
Family: Liliaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Horses
Symptoms:Vomiting, diarrhea, depression.
Hydrangea
Other Common Names: Hortensia, Hills of Snow, Seven Bark
Scientific Name: Hydrangea arborescens
Family: Hydrangeaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
HorsesSymptoms:Vomiting, depression, diarrhea. Cyanide intoxication is rare, usually produces more of a gastrointestinal disturbance.
Iris
Other Common Names: Flag, Snake Lily, Water Flag
Scientific Name: Iris species
Family: Iridaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Symptoms:Salivation, vomiting, drooling,lethargy, diarrhea. Highest concentration in rhizomes.
Jack-in-the-pulpit
Other Common Names: Three-leaved indian turnip, Devil’s dear, Wake robin, Starch wort, Wild turnip, Dragon root, Bog onion, Pepper turnip, Brown dragon, Memory root
Scientific Name: Arisaema triphyllum
Family: Araceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Horses
Symptoms:Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
Jade Plant
Other Common Names: Baby Jade, Dwarf rubber plant, Jade tree, Chinese rubber plant, Japanese rubber plant
Symptoms:Gastrointestinal upset, agitation, tremors, disorientation, ataxia, anorexia. Seeds may cause hallucination, may cause diarrhea..
Onion
Scientific Name: Allium cepa
Family: Liliaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Horses
Symptoms:Gastrointestinal upset, hemolytic anemia, heinz Vomiting, breakdown of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia, Heinz body anemia), blood in urine, weakness, high heart rate, panting.
HorsesSymptoms:Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock.
Peony
Scientific Name: Paeonis officinalis
Family: Paeniaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Horses
Symptoms:Vomiting, diarrhea, depression.
Primrose
Scientific Name: Primula vulgaris
Family: Primulaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Horses
Symptoms:Mild vomiting.
Rhododendron
Other Common Names: Rosebay, Azalea
Scientific Name: Rhododendron spp
Family: Ericaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Horses
Symptoms:Vomiting, diarrhea, hyper-salivation, weakness, coma, hypotension, CNS depression, cardiovascular collapse and death. Ingestion of a few leaves can cause serious problems. Horses:Clinical effects typically occur within a few hours after ingestion, and can include acute digestive upset, excessive drooling, loss of appetite, frequent bowel movements, diarrhea, colic, depression, weakness, loss of coordination, stupor, leg paralysis, weak heart rate and recumbency for 2 or more days; at this point, improvement may be seen or the animal may become comatose and die.
Rhubarb
Other Common Names: Pie Plant
Scientific Name: Rheum rhabarbarium
Family: Polygonaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Horses
Symptoms:Kidney failure, tremors, salivation.
Stargazer Lily
Scientific Name: Lilium orientalis
Family: Liliaceae
Toxic to:
Cats
Symptoms:Vomiting, inappetence, lethargy, kidney failure and death is possible.
Sweet Pea
Other Common Names: Perennial Pea, Everlasting Pea
Scientific Name: Lathyrus latifolius
Family: Fabaceae
Toxic to:
Dogs
Cats
Horses
Symptoms:Weakness, lethargy, pacing, head pressing, tremors, seizures and possibly death.
Tiger Lily
Scientific Name: Lilium tigrinum
Family: Liliaceae
Toxic to:
Cats
Symptoms:Vomiting, inappetence, lethargy, kidney failure, and death is possible.
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