Laburnum
Dogs tend to eat the seeds, which can cause agitation, cramps and fits. They can be
fatal.
Daffodils
Chewed bulbs are the main cause of the problem, but eating the flowers, or even
drinking the water in the vase where cut flowers have been left, can cause vomiting
and diarrhoea. Even a portion of one bulb can be fatal to some animals, and the
lethal dose is just 15g of bulbs.
Lily of the valley
Dogs and cats can chew or swallow the leaves that have been made up into bouquets.
The toxin can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as affecting the heart. The pet
may collapse and have fits.
Cherry laurel
Dogs can chew the leaves of this hedging plant, used in parks. Leaves are at their
most toxic if there is a drought. Even small amounts can cause death in minutes.
Castor oil bush
This is cultivated as both an indoor and outdoor plant, and dogs can eat the seeds.
Dogs also seem to be especially attracted to fertiliser oilcakes made from the
plants. After eating the seeds or oilcakes, there is a latent period of 12 to 72
hours. After this there can be an episode of severe and lengthy gastroenteritis.
The affected dog may fit and the poison is usually fatal within two to three days.
Philodendron
All parts of this popular ornamental houseplant are toxic, although it is usually
the leaves that are chewed or eaten. There can be local effects, through contact,
causing irritation to the eyes and mouth, causing excessive salivation. After
eating the plant, the effects are more general and include vomiting and diarrhoea,
with mild to moderate gastroenteritis. In cats, the condition usually develops into
a more serious condition, and can be fatal.
These are just a few of the plants that can cause harm to your cat or dog. You can
find out more information from the Handbook of Poisoning in Dogs and Cats by A
Campbell and M Chapman. Or, for an online reference of poisonous plants, simply go
to Cornell University's online poisonous plants database
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