Spring brings color and new life to our surroundings, but the very things that make spring so vibrant can pose a serious threat to our beloved pets.
Dr. Merle Bailey, senior professor in the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, provides valuable insight into common poisonous plants that pet owners should be aware of during the spring season, both indoors and outdoors.
Longhorn lily
Longhorn lilies, popular in spring flower arrangements, and lilies in general, contain toxins that can cause severe kidney damage in cats and are highly toxic to our feline friends. In cats, even small amounts of ingestion, such as chewing flower petals or drinking water from a vase containing lilies, can cause acute kidney injury.
The exact toxin that causes this problem is unknown, but owners can recognize the signs of lily poisoning, such as loss of appetite, hiding behavior, and lethargy.
“If owners notice anything unusual about their cat, especially if they have lilies planted around the house, they should take their cat to the vet right away,” says Bailey. “Veterinarians will start your cat on extensive intravenous fluid therapy to protect the kidneys, but these must be administered within 48 hours for the most effective treatment.”
Dogs can also be affected by lily poisoning, but Bailey says dogs are less likely to ingest lilies than cats.
cycad
Cycad plants (commonly called palms or ferns) are a type of seed plant commonly found indoors and outdoors in tropical and subtropical regions, and their roots contain liver toxins.
“The first sign pet owners will see is blood in their pet's stool or vomit,” says Bailey. “Your pet may soon develop severe bleeding. Normal clotting factors are made by the liver, but if the liver stops making clotting factors, the blood will no longer clot.”
Cats and dogs alike can experience cycad poisoning, but dogs are often attracted to cycads due to their natural tendency to explore their environment by sniffing and chewing.
Nevertheless, to prevent pets from accidentally ingesting cycads, owners should learn how to identify the plants and closely monitor their pets if cycads are nearby.
mushroom
Spring is also the time when a variety of mushrooms begin to sprout in gardens, parks, and other outdoor areas. Although many mushrooms are harmless, some species can be toxic to cats and dogs.
“There are a number of mushrooms that can cause a variety of clinical symptoms, starting with vomiting and diarrhea, then organ failure, and even death,” Bailey says. “There is no appropriate specific treatment for mushroom poisoning, so veterinarians will treat patients according to the clinical symptoms present.”
Pet owners are likely to ingest large amounts of mushrooms while exploring outdoors, so it's important to carefully remove mushrooms growing in areas that are accessible to your pet, especially if you have a dog.
blue green algae
During warmer months, blue-green algae bloom and accumulate in stationary bodies of water such as ponds, lakes, and rivers, producing toxins that can be deadly to dogs and cats.
“Water may be clear, but toxins may still be present, so it's best for owners to avoid allowing their pets to swim in the water. Especially in areas where the water isn't moving, blue-green algae can form. 'So we can start growing,''' Bailey explained. “The first clinical signs, such as convulsions and collapse, appear as soon as the animal is out of the water, and the pet's condition can deteriorate rapidly before the owner can take it to the veterinarian.”
If a pet has been exposed to blue-green algae or shows signs of poisoning after being near a body of water, owners should seek veterinary care immediately.
As spring approaches, pet owners should be aware of potential dangers lurking in and around their homes. Pet owners can proactively learn about common poisonous plants to help their furry friends stay safe and healthy this season.
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Pet Talk is a service of the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Biomedical Sciences. Stories can be viewed on the web. vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be sent to vmbs-editor@tamu.edu.
