Common Garden Plants That Are Dangerous To Pets
Are you a pet owner who has recently purchased a home with a large yard? Are you planning to finally start the garden of your dreams? If you have a curious cat or dog, it can be difficult to keep him or her out of your vegetable or flower garden. In order to avoid possibly accidentally making your pet sick, here is a list of some common plants that you may want to keep out of your new garden:
Hostas: A popular garden plant, hostas are actually edible to humans. Unfortunately, the same can't be said of dogs or cats. If you have a pet that ravages your hosta plantings, they will need to visit the nearest animal hospital right away. If your furry friend has eaten hostas, symptoms of poisoning can include vomiting and diarrhea. It can also cause abdominal pain, which can be more difficult to spot in certain pets.
Onions: If you have your heart set on growing your own onions, you might want to change your mind if you have a pet that likes to get into and gnaw on everything. Onions can be toxic to both cats and dogs, with cats being more affected by this vegetable. Depending on how much onion is ingested, your pet can go into respiratory distress and may even get dangerous anemia. This can result in an expensive stay in your local animal hospital, possibly including blood transfusions.
English ivy: If you like the look of plants growing up the side of your home, you may want to choose a different vine. Like the other plants mentioned, English ivy can be dangerous to both dogs and cats. If your house came with an English ivy vine, you may want to pull it out before it is discovered by your cat or dog. A curious pet who decides to chew on a few English ivy leaves may start to drool excessively, vomit or have diarrhea.
Rhododendrons: Many people plant rhododendron bushes because of their beautiful flowers. Unfortunately, this plant contains a powerful neurotoxin that may cause death if your pet isn't given prompt treatment by a qualified animal hospital. Unlike some other plants, only a tiny amount of rhododendron needs to be ingested to cause this effect. If your dog likes to fetch and chew on sticks, he or she may find and play with a rhododendron branch without your knowledge. Because of the small quantities needed, it may be difficult to know that your pet has consumed any rhododendron until it is too late.
Contact a business, such as Centennial Animal Hospital, for more information.