Poisonous Plants

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• Cats may nibble and chew on various houseplants but are less likely to ingest plants than dogs, and poisoning in adults of either species is rare. Plants, including lawn grasses, generally have an irritant effect on the gastrointestinal tract, inducing emesis or a purgative response.
• Ingestion of 2 lily leaves can be fatal .
• The effects of plant poisoning may be:
  • Gastrointestinal irritation: abdominal pain, nausea, salivation, vomiting and diarrhea.
  • Neurological problems (vary widely depending on plant): mydriasis, hyperthermia, muscular collapse, convulsions and hallucinogenic effects . 
  • Cardiovascular effects (bradycardia, arrhythmias).
  • Cyanide poisoning .
  • Acute renal failure .
  • Acute hepatic failure .
  • Hemolytic anemia .
• See Cardiotoxic plant poisoning .

• Azalea (Rhododendron sp).
• Birds of paradise (Strelizia reginae).
• Bulbs (Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis), Daffodil (Narcissus sp)).
• Cyclamen, especially tubers (Cyclamen sp).
• Daphne (Daphne sp).
• Holly , especially berries (Ilex sp).
• Ivy (aka English Ivy, Branching Ivy, Glacier Ivy, Needlepoint Ivy) (Hedera helix).
• Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus).
• Mistletoe  (Viscum album). 
• Mushrooms.
• Poinsettia  (Euphorbia pulcherrima).
• Rosebay (Epilobium augustifolium).
• Rhododendron  (Rhododendron sp).

Delayed digestive tract effects from

• Black locust (aka False Acacia) (Robinia pseudoacacia).
• Castor bean (aka Castor oil plant) (Ricinus communis) .
• Ground cherry (aka Cape Gooseberry) (Physalis virginiana).
• Jasmine (Jasminum sp).
• Nightshades (Atropa sp and Solanum sp).

Mild gastroenteritis

• Podocarpus spp.

Gastroenteritis and cardiovascular collapse

• Yew (aka English Yew)  (Taxus baccata)

Acute gastric effects

• Mushrooms (Amanita spp).
• Laburnum (aka Golden chain tree) (Laburnum anagyroides) (vomiting, diarrhea and muscle tremors).

Salivation

• Tobacco (Nicotiana sp).
• Mescal Bean (Sophora secundiflora).
• Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis).
• Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioica)

Neurological effects

• Belladonna (aka Deadly Nightshade) (Atropa belladonna).
• Datura (parasympatholytic) (Datura sp).
• Delphinium (Delphinium sp).
• Jasmine (Jasminum sp).
• Jimson weed (aka Thorn apple) (Datura stramonium).

Convulsions

• Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria).
• Chinaberry tree (Melia azadarach).
• Yellow jasmine.

Hallucinogenic effects

• Morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea).
• Marijuana (Cannabis sativa).
• Periwinkle (Vinca sp).
• Jimson weed (aka Thorn apple) (Datura stramonium).

Cardiovascular effects

• Foxglove  (Digitalis purpurea).
• Larkspur  (Consolida ajacis).
• Lily of the valley  (Convallaria majalis).
• Monk's-hood  (Aconitum napellus).
• Oleander (Nerium oleander) .
• Yew (aka English Yew)  (Taxus baccata).

Cyanide poisoning

• Hydrangea (Hydrangea sp).
• Sacred bamboo (aka Heavenly Bamboo) (Nandina domestica).
• Passiflora (Passiflora sp).
• Prunus - apricot and other prunus-fruit kernels.

Acute renal failure

• Lilies :
  • Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum).
  • Tiger lily (Lilium sp).
  • Japanese show lily (Lilium sp).
  • Nebrum lily.
  • Day lilies (Hemocallis sp).
• Mistletoe  (Viscum album).
• Ivy .
• Datura (Datura sp).
• Allium (Allium sp) .
• Onion (Allium sp).
• Canna (Canna sp).
• Delphinium (Delphinium sp).
• Apricot (Prunus armeniaca).
• Garlic (Allium sp).
• Holly  (Ilex sp)
• Mother-in-law tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata).
• Cycad palm (Cycas and Zamia sp) .
• Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium).
• Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris).
• Rattlebox (Crotalaria sp).
• Heliotrope.
• Rapeseed (Brassica napus).
• Lantana (Lantana camara).
• Mushrooms.

Other

Plants containing calcium oxalate

• Oral, pharyngeal and esophageal irritation, salivation and mucosal edema. Occasionally, vomiting and diarrhea are observed.
• Anthurium (Anthurium sp).
• Arum (Cuckoo pint, Lords and ladies) (Arum sp).
• Begonia (Begonia sp).
• Calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica).
• Dumbcane  (Dieffenbachia sp)
• Elephant's ear (aka Caladium) (Caladium hortulanum).
• Jack-in-the-pulpit.
• Monstera (Swiss cheese plant) (Monstera deliciosa).
• Mother-in-laws tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata).
• Philodendron  (Philodendron sp).
• Schleffera (Philodendron sp).
• Rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum)  leaves contain soluble oxalates which have more serious systemic effects hypocalcemia, but animals are unlikely to consume sufficient amount.

Other

• Nettle (Urtica dioica) contains plant hairs that implant an irritating substance into the cat.
• Plants having awns, spines or thorns may cause puncture wounds or may remain as foreign bodies to produce abscesses:
  • Cacti.
  • Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).
  • Bromegrasses (Bromus sp).
  • Foxtail.
  • Pyracantha (Pyracantha sp).
  • Needlegrass.
  • Sandbur.
• Irritating saps cause irritation to any in contact mucous membranes:
  • Euphorbia (Euphorbia sp).
  • Pencil cactus.
  • Poinsettia  (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
• Liver failure: plants containing pyrrolizizium:
  • Cycad palm (Cycas and Zamia sp).
  • Cocklebur.
  • Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris).
  • Heliotrope.
  • Lantana (Lantana camara).
  • Mushrooms.
  • Rapeseed (Brassica napus).
  • Rattlebox (Crotalaria sp).

• Patient observation when limited information is available.
• Evacuation of GI tract and use of an absorbent (activated charcoal ).
• Supportive management.
• See Cardiotoxic plant poisoning .
• See Kidney: acute renal failure .
• See hepatic failure .
• See anemia .

• Hall J O (2001) Lily nephrotoxicity. In:Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine 4 August J R (ed). pp 308-309.
• Campbell A & Chapman M (2000) Handbook of Poisoning in Dogs and Cats. Blackwell Science.
• Burger I H (1994) Natural Food Hazards. In: The Waltham Book of Clinical Nutrition of the Dog and Cat. Wills J M & Simpson K W (eds). pp 159-161.
• Rumbeiha W K, Oehme F W & Reid F M (1994) Toxicoses. In:The Cat. Diseases and Clinical Management. Volume 1. 2nd edn. Sherding R G (ed). pp 229-230.

• David Godfrey BVetMed CertSAM CertSAD DipABVP MRCVS, Nine Lives Veterinary Practice for Cats, 2068 Stratford Road, Hockley Heath, West Midlands B94 6NT, UK.

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