ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 14 Beautiful Flowers That Can Pose a Threat to Your Furry Friends – GWC Mag gwcmagMarch 5, 2024053 views As pet parents, we want nothing but the best for our beloved furry friends. However, many of us may not be aware that some of the most beautiful flowers can be toxic to our pets. Below are 14 gorgeous flower species that can pose a risk to our furry companions, so you can be conscious of what you bring into your home. By understanding the potential dangers and taking necessary precautions, we can create a safe and pet-friendly environment for our beloved family members. 1. Lilies Source: JacksonGalaxy/Youtube Lilies can be highly toxic to cats. Ingesting any part of the plant, including the petals, leaves, or pollen, can cause kidney failure in cats. It’s crucial to keep lilies out of reach to ensure the safety of our feline friends. In July of 2023, a cat was poisoned after a brush with lilies. Bella, the cat, was clinically dead for 26 minutes after collapsing suddenly at home. Luckily, veterinarians at Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in Solihull were able to bring the cat back to life. 2. Tulips Tulips, known for their vibrant colors and popularity in springtime arrangements, contain toxins that can cause gastrointestinal irritation in pets. Ingesting tulips can lead to symptoms such as drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea. It’s important to be cautious and keep tulips away from our furry companions. In 2018, a cat mom named Julie Chidlowtook a quick picture of her cat, Kiki, with a bundle of tulips. Less than 24 hours later, Kiki had to be put down after succumbing to poisoning from the floral arrangement. 3. Daffodils The bright and cheerful daffodils, a common sight in gardens and flower beds, can be harmful to pets if ingested. All parts of the daffodil plant, including the bulbs, stems, leaves, and flowers, contain toxic compounds. Ingesting daffodils can cause symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and even heart problems in pets. 4. Azaleas Source: CBS TEXAS/Youtube Azaleas, beloved for their stunning and vibrant blooms, contain grayantoxins that can be toxic to pets. Ingesting even a small amount of azalea can lead to symptoms like drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, abnormal heart rate and weakness. It’s crucial to keep these beautiful flowers away from our furry friends. 5. Hydrangeas Hydrangeas, with their large and showy flower clusters, can pose a threat to pets if consumed. These flowers contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can cause gastrointestinal upset in pets. It’s important to be cautious and prevent our furry friends from nibbling on hydrangeas. 6. Oleander Oleander, with its attractive and fragrant flowers, can be highly toxic to pets. Ingesting any part of the oleander plant, including the leaves and flowers, can lead to symptoms such as drooling, weakness, irregular heartbeat, tremors, seizures, and even death. It’s essential to keep pets away from oleander plants at all times. 7. Lily of the Valley Source: KFOR Oklahoma’s News 4/Youtube Lily of the Valley, known for its delicate and sweet-scented bell-shaped flowers, can be toxic to pets if ingested. These flowers contain cardiac glycosides, which can affect the heart and lead to symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and even cardiac arrhythmia. It’s best to avoid having these flowers in our homes if we have pets. 8. Chrysanthemums Chrysanthemums, with their vibrant and colorful blooms, can be harmful to pets if consumed. These flowers contain pyrethrins, which can cause gastrointestinal upset, drooling, and, in some cases, allergic reactions in pets. It’s important to keep chrysanthemums out of reach and opt for pet-safe alternatives. 9. Sago Palm Source: ABC 10 News/Youtube The sago palm, a popular decorative plant, can be toxic to pets if ingested. All parts of the sago palm, including the leaves and seeds, contain toxins that can lead to liver failure in pets. It’s crucial to keep these plants out of reach and be cautious when planting them in our homes. In April of 2021, a family lost two of their dogs to Sago Palm. Minutes after ingesting the seeds that Maisy and Murphy found in their South Carolina backyard, the pups began vomiting. They were in desperate need of medical help, but this did not save them. 10. Iris Irises, with their stunning and intricate blooms, can pose a threat to pets if ingested, triggering tissue irritation. These flowers contain toxins that can cause gastrointestinal upset in pets. It’s important to be mindful and prevent our furry friends from accessing irises. 11. Morning Glory Morning glories, with their vibrant and trumpet-shaped flowers, can be toxic to pets if consumed in large quantities. These flowers contain toxic alkaloids that can lead to symptoms such as gastrointestinal upset, tremors, and even hallucinations in pets. It’s best to avoid having morning glories where our pets can reach them. 12. Baby’s Breath Baby’s breath, commonly used as a filler flower in bouquets and arrangements, can be harmful to pets if ingested. These tiny white flowers contain toxic compounds that can cause gastrointestinal upset and, in some cases, difficulty breathing. It’s important to keep baby’s breath out of reach of our furry friends or opt for pet-friendly alternatives. 13. Peace Lily Source: WNCT-TV 9 On Your Side/Youtube Peace lilies, with their elegant white blooms, contain calcium oxalate crystals that can cause oral irritation, drooling, difficulty swallowing, and vomiting if consumed by pets. It’s essential to keep peace lilies out of reach or choose pet-safe alternatives to ensure the well-being of our furry friends. 14. Cyclamen Cyclamen plants have beautiful, colorful flowers, but their tubers contain toxic compounds like cyclamine and saponins. Ingesting cyclamen can cause gastrointestinal upset, including vomiting and diarrhea. In some cases, it can even lead to heart rhythm abnormalities. Keeping cyclamen plants out of reach or opting for pet-friendly alternatives is the best way to keep our pets safe. While flowers bring beauty and joy to our lives, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks they can pose to our furry friends. The 15 flower species mentioned above can be toxic to pets if ingested. By understanding the potential dangers and taking necessary precautions, such as keeping these flowers out of reach or opting for pet-safe alternatives, we can create a safe and pet-friendly environment for our beloved companions. Let’s prioritize the well-being of our furry friends by being mindful of the flowers we choose to have in our homes and gardens. animals are my favorite people tee Animals Are My Favorite People by Tiny Rescue: Animal Collection Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content.Click here to Support Us Related Content: Easy Ways to Help the Planet: Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks. Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again. 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