As the weather gets warmer, many of us are looking to spruce up our gardens and introduce some new flowers and shrubs — but you might be surprised to learn just how dangerous certain plants can be for the animals that happen to nibble on them.
While some of the most popular outdoor plants can cause unpleasant symptoms in pets — from itching and vomiting to seizures and even cardiac arrest — that doesn't mean pet owners can't have a beautiful garden. The folks over at Patch Plants have highlighted five common plants that are toxic to animals, as well as their pet-safe alternatives.
1. Yew
English yew is poisonous to both humans and animals, thanks to a compound called taxine. Eating any part of the plant can lead to seizures and cardiac arrest in cats and dogs.
Alternative: Photinia x Fraseri (Red Robin)
2. Azaleas and rhododendrons
The grayanotoxins in these pretty flowers can cause a range of nasty symptoms for your pet, including difficulty breathing and vomiting, if consumed in a large quantity.
Alternative: Camellia Japonica
3. Hydrangeas
According to Patch Plants's plant doctor and lead horticulturalist Kelly Dyer, this popular bloom is dangerous because it contains "a compound called cyanogenic glycoside which, with chewing, can cause cyanide to be released." Your pet would have to eat a lot of the flower to suffer from cyanide poisoning, but even the mild side effects include vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite.
Alternative: Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)
4. Hardy/Cranesbill geraniums
The essential oils linalool and geraniol are present in all parts of the Hardy or Cranesbill geranium, and can result in itching, dermatitis and vomiting if ingested by your four-legged friend.
Alternative: Salvia "Black and Bloom"
5. Ivy
While this plant is common in gardens and the wild, it can be very toxic to animals — and, contrary to popular belief, the leaves are more dangerous than the berries. If your pet eats ivy, the triterpenoid saponins can cause hypersalivation, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea.
Alternative: Golden Shield Fern
Via Patch Plants.
[Image credit: Victoria Strukovskaya]
