Common Plants Poisonous to Pets

They may be beautiful, but make sure these common plants (or variations of these plants) aren't in your garden or home if you own a pet: they can be poisonous!

Apple

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Apple Ingestion:

• Brick red mucous membranes
• dilated pupils
• difficulty breathing
• panting

Most Dangerous Parts of the Plant:

The stems, seeds and leaves of apple are the most toxic.

Autumn Crocus

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Autumn Crocus Ingestion:

• Oral irritation
• bloody vomiting
• diarrhea
• shock
• multi-organ damage
• bone marrow suppression

Most Dangerous Parts of Plant:

The entire plant is poisonous.

Azaleas

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Azalea Ingestion:

• Vomiting
• diarrhea
• hypersalivation
• weakness, coma, hypotension
• CNS depression
• cardiovascular collapse
• death

Most Dangerous Parts of the Plant:

The leaves are the most toxic part of the plant and can be lethal.

Bird-of-Paradise

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Bird-of-Paradise Ingestion:

• Oral irritation
• intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips
• excessive drooling
• vomiting and diarrhea
• difficulty swallowing
• incoordination

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant:

The berries are the most toxic.

Black Locust Tree

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Black Locust Ingestion:

• Depression
• poor appetite
• weakness or paralysis
• abdominal pain and diarrhea (which may be bloody)
• abnormalities in the heart rate and/or rhythm

Most Dangerous Parts of the Plant:

The leaves (especially wilted), shoots, pods, seeds, and bark are the most poisonous.

Buckeye Tree

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Buckeye Tree Ingestion:

• Severe vomiting and diarrhea
• depression or excitement
• dilated pupils
• coma
• convulsions

Most Dangerous Parts of the Plant:

The seeds and flowers are the most poisonous.

Buttercup

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Buttercup Ingestion:

• Vomiting
• diarrhea
• depression
• anorexia
• hypersalivation
• wobbly gait

Most Dangerous Parts of the Plant:

The entire plant is poisonous.

Caladium Plant

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs

Symptoms of Caladium Plant Ingestion:

• Oral irritation, including intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips
• excessive drooling
• vomiting
• difficulty swallowing

Most Dangerous Parts of the Plant:

The entire plant is poisonous.

Castor Bean Plant

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Castor Bean Plant Ingestion:

• Oral irritation, including burning of mouth and throat
• increase in thirst
• vomiting and diarrhea
• kidney failure
• convulsions

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant:

The beans are the most toxic part of the Castor Bean Plant.

Christmas Berry

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Christmas Berry Ingestion:

• Hypersalivation
• inappetence
• severe gastrointestinal upset, including diarrhea,
• drowsiness
• CNS depression
• weakness
• dilated pupils
• slow heart rate

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant:

The green fruit is the most poisonous.

Christmas Rose

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Christmas Rose Ingestion:

• Drooling
• abdominal pain and diarrhea
• colic
• depression

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant:

The flower is the most poisonous part of the plant.

Cowslip

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Cowslip Ingestion:

• Mild vomiting

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant:

The flowers have the most toxins.

Daffodil (also known as Narcissus)

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Daffodil Ingestion:

• Vomiting
• salivation
• diarrhea
• convulsions
• low blood pressure
• tremors and cardiac arrhythmias

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant:

The bulb is the most poisonous part to our pets.

Elderberry

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Elderberry Ingestion:

• Causes a cyanide build-up in the animal's body

Most Dangerous Parts of the Plant:

The leaves, twigs, branches, and roots are toxic.

Holly

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Holly Ingestion:

• Vomiting and diarrhea
• depression

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant:

The leaves and berries have a low toxicity, but are the most poisonous part of the plant.

Hyacinth

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs

Symptoms of Hyacinth Ingestion:

• Vomiting and diarrhea
• dermatitis and other allergic reactions

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant:\

The bulb is the most poisonous part to our pets.

Iris

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs

Symptoms of Iris Ingestion:

• Salivation
• vomiting and diarrhea
• drooling
• lethargy

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant:

Poison is concentrated in the rhizomes.

Ivy (all types including English Ivy)

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Ivy Ingestion:

• Vomiting, diarrhea and general abdominal pain
• hyper-salivation

Most Dangerous Parts of the Plant:

The foliage is highly toxic, yet the berries still contain some poison.

Laurels

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Laurel Ingestion:

• Vomiting and diarrhea
• depression
• cardiovascular collapse
• hyper-salivation
• weakness
• coma
• low blood pressure
• death

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant:

The leaves are the most toxic part of the plant and can be lethal.

Lily (of all types)

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Lily Ingestion:

• Oral irritation, including intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips
• excessive drooling
• vomiting
• difficulty swallowing

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant:

Cats are the most sensitive to Lilies. The entire plant is poisonous.

Mistletoe

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Mistletoe Ingestion:

• Gastrointestinal disorders, including vomiting and diarrhea
• cardiovascular collapse
• dyspnea
• bradycardia
• erratic behavior (hallucinogenic in humans)
• low blood pressure (rare)

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant:

The entire plant is poisonous.

Morning Glory

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs

Symptoms of Morning Glory Ingestion:

• Gastrointestinal upset
• agitation
• tremors
• disorientation
• ataxia
• anorexia

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant:

The seeds are the most toxic.

Mustards

Poisonous to:

• Horses

Symptoms of Mustard Ingestion:

• Digestive tract irritation

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant:

The entire plant is toxic.

Oleander(all types)

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Oleander Ingestion:

• Colic
• diarrhea (possibly bloody)
• sweating
• incoordination
• shallow/difficult breathing
• muscle tremors
• recumbency
• possibly death from cardiac failure

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant:

The entire plant is poisonous.

Poinsetta

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs

Symptoms of Poinsettia Ingestion:

• Irritating to the mouth and stomach, sometimes causing vomiting

Most Dangerous Parts of the Plant:

Generally over-rated in toxicity. Most toxins in sap.

Rhubarb

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Rhubarb Ingestion:

• Kidney failure
• tremors
• salivation

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant:

The leaves are toxic.

Star of Bethlehem

Poisonous to:

• Horses

Symptoms of Star of Bethlehem Ingestion:

• Salivation
• depression
• gastrointestinal upset

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant

The entire plant is toxic.

Wisteria

Poisonous to:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Horses

Symptoms of Wisteria Ingestion

• Vomiting and diarrhea
• depression

Most Dangerous Part of the Plant:

The flowers are toxic.

For a full list of all plants poisonous to pets, visit www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/