ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) — Flowers and Valentine's Day go hand in hand. A bouquet of flowers is a great gift for your lover, but some flowers can be dangerous for your furry friend.
Choosing the perfect flower arrangement is difficult enough without considering which flowers might make your loved one's cat or dog sick. TrustedHousesitters, a global pet sitting service, worked with veterinarians to help determine which common flowers are dangerous to pets and provide pet-friendly alternatives.
If you're buying flowers for a cat owner, make sure the bouquet you choose doesn't include lilies. These flowers are also toxic to dogs, but lilies are especially dangerous to cats. Even if your cat doesn't eat lilies, the pollen from the flowers can be harmful to your cat.
“Eating even small amounts of this flower can cause fatal kidney failure in cats,” says veterinarian Amanda Takiguchi. “Multiple types of lilies are toxic to cats, so it's best to avoid lilies altogether.”
All flower bulbs are toxic to cats and dogs, as are the flowers grown from these bulbs. In particular, daffodils and tulips are highly toxic to both cats and dogs. If a cat or dog ingests any portion of daffodil, severe vomiting and other health problems can occur. Any part of the tulip can cause excessive drooling, loss of appetite, vomiting, heart abnormalities, and central nervous system depression.
Carnations are a popular Valentine's Day flower, but if you're buying flowers for someone with a pet, it's best not to buy them. The toxins in carnations can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and cats, and can also cause mild dermatitis. Hydrangeas are also toxic, and cats and dogs that ingest these flowers can experience an upset stomach, increased heart rate, high fever, and vomiting.
Roses are not poisonous to pets, but their sharp thorns can hurt pets who try to munch on them. If the rose's thorns have not been removed, be sure to keep it out of reach of pets. TrustedHousesitters recommends pet owners choose sunflowers, petunias, pansies, marigolds, snapdragons, violets, freesias, and orchids.
If you're not sure if flowers (or other types of plants) are safe for pets, you can search the ASPCA's database to find out. If you think your pet may have eaten a poisonous plant, take it to your veterinarian immediately.
