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Poisonous Plants & Dangerous Foods

Some common houseplants and table-scraps can be very dangerous to your pets—even fatal! When a pet develops symptoms like diarrhea or vomiting, it can be too late. The best course of action is to make sure your pet does not have access to these common foods and plants. This list is meant for reference only, if your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, call your veterinarian immediately.

  • A Alfalfa, almond pits, alocasia, amaryllis, apple seeds/core, apricot pit, arrow grass, avocado, azalea
  • B Baneberry, bayonet, bear grass, beech, belladonna, bird of paradise, bittersweet, black-eyed Susan, black locust, bleeding heart, bloodroot, bluebonnet, bones (turkey, chicken, etc), box, boxwood, buckeyes, burning bush, buttercup
  • C Cactus/candelabra, caladium, calla lilly, castor bean, cheese, cherry pits, wild cherries, ground cherry, cherry laurel, chinaberry, chocolate, christmas rose/berry, chrysanthemum, clematis, coriaria, cornflower, corydalis, autumn crocus, crown of thorns, cyclamen
  • D Daffodil or jonquil, daphne, datura, deadly nightshade, death carmas, delphinium, dicentrea, dieffenbachia, dumb cane
  • E Easter lily, eggplant, elderberry, elephant ear, English ivy, euonymus, evergreen
  • F Ferns, flax, four o’clock, foxglove
  • G Golden chain, golden glow, gopher purge, grapes
  • H Ham (& other fatty meats), hellebore, poison hemlock, water hemlock, henbane, holly, honeysuckle, horse beans, horse brush, horse chestnuts, hyacinth, hydrangea
  • I Indian tobacco, iris, iris ivy
  • J Jack in the pulpit, jasmine berries, java beans, jerusalem cherry, jessamine, jimson weed, jungle trumpets
  • L Lantana, larkspur, laurel, lily, spider lily, lily of the valley, locoweed, lupine
  • M Macadamia nuts, marigold, marijuana, mescal bean, mistletoe, mock orange, monkshood, moonseed, morning glory, mountain laurel, mushrooms
  • N Nightshade
  • O Oleander, onions
  • P Peach pits, pear pits, peony, periwinkle, philodendron, pimpernel, plum pits, Poinciana, Poinsettia, poison ivy, poison oak, pokeweed, poppy, potato (peels/green-looking potatoes), precatory bean, common privet
  • R Raisins, red sage, redwood chips (to aquatic animals), rhododendron, rhubarb, rosary pea, rubber plant
  • S Scotch broom, skunk cabbage, snowdrops, snow on the mountain, stagger weed, star of Bethlehem, sweet pea
  • T Tansy mustard, tiger lilly, tobacco, tomato (leaves/stems), tulip, tung tree Virginia creeper water hemlock, weeping fig, wild call, wisteria yews (Japanese yew, English yew, western yew, American yew)
  • X Xylitol (highly toxic to dogs, common artificial sweetener)

FERTILIZERS ARE POISONOUS
Insecticides, fertilizers and slug replants can KILL pets. Find more natural, organic alternatives. Never put snail bait in a yard that pets visit. If you are using fertilizer, adequately water the area where it is applied to ensure the chemical sinks into the soil instead of remaining solely on the surface. Try keeping your pets out of the area of the yard that has recently been treated with an insecticide or fertilizer, at least until the area dries.

SIGNS YOUR PET MAY BE POISONED
Salivation, in accordance with any of the following : muscle tremors, seizures, vomiting or diarrhea. If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms (s)he may have eaten a poisonous plant or ingested a harmful chemical. Take him or her to the vet immediately. Do not wait. If you know the plant or chemical they ingested, take it with you.

WHAT TO DO IF POISONED
Call Animal Poison Hotline at (888) 232-8870. Please be advised that there is a per incident fee

Providing “cat grass” (barley grass) is a good idea. It is sold at many grocery stores as well as most pet supply stores. “Cat grass” is safe, healthy and enjoyed by cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and rats alike.

Please note, articles in the Animal Resource Library are for reference only, and are not meant to diagnose or treat any medical or behavioral issues your pet may be experiencing.