Mar Vista Animal Medical Center

3850 Grand View Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90066

(310)391-6741

www.marvistavet.com

SAFE AND UNSAFE GARDENING

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GARDEN TIPS

dog with flowers
(original graphic by marvistavet.com)

Gardening is a relaxing pastime enjoyed by many people and many people allow pets in their garden. The garden shops and catalogs are full of gorgeous garden shrubs and flowers. They tell us how to water and how much sunshine is needed, but rarely do they tell us if the plant is safe in case your pet chews it up.

Your dog or cat is probably having visions of digging through or chewing up the plants. We’ll leave the fencing and reprimanding up to you, but just to be on the safe side, how about planting only non-toxic plants? If unplanned periodic demolition of the garden by the family dog (or even the cat) is a fact of life, it is good to know the plants he or she is chewing up are non-toxic. It may not help the garden any, but knowing your pet isn’t going to get sick because of it is one less thing to worry about. It’s good to know what is considered safe should the family pet get frisky and start chewing and digging in the flower beds. We’ll try to help out.

 

HOW DANGEROUS IS A TOXIC PLANT?

In the past we listed plants as “safe” or “toxic.” This seems straight-forward but turns out that there is more to it so let us be more specific.

Safe Plants: Can be chewed up or eaten with no ill effects of any kind.

Toxic Plants: Will not actually be dangerous to your pet but will give your pet a very unpleasant upset stomach or oral chemical irritation if he or she eats or chews them. The resulting discomfort may require medical treatment in order to feel better.

Poisonous Plants: Can potentially kill your pet or cause serious damage to their body if your pet eats or chews them.

 

Now there are hundreds if not thousands of flowers and shrubs available for gardening so we cannot go through them all but we CAN include some classics.

 

SAFE PLANTS

The following garden plants should cause no trouble of any kind.

Alyssum orig

Alyssum
(original graphic by marvistavet.com)

Gerber Daisy wiki

Gerber Daisy
(public domain image
via Wikimedia Commons)

Polka Dot plant wb

Polkadot Plant (aka Baby Tears)
(original graphic by marvistavet.com)

 

 

 

Blue Daisy mf

 Blue Daisy
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Bottlebrush tree mf

Bottlebrush tree
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com) 

Camellia wb

Camellia
(original graphic by marvistavet.com) 

 

 

 

Canna mf 

Canna
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Viola wb

Viola
(original graphic by marvistavet.com)

Christmas cactus wiki

Christmas Cactus
(public domain image
via Wikimedia Commons)

 

 

 

 Snap Dragon wb

Snap Dragon
(original graphic
by marvistavet.com)

Coreopsis mf

Coreopsis
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com) 

Marigold mf

Marigold
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

 

 

 

 Gloxinia wiki

Gloxinia
(Photocredit: Scott Zona via Wikimedia Commons)

Star Jasmine wb

Star Jasmine
(original graphic
by marvistavet.com)

Nasturtium orig

Nasturtium
(original graphic by marvistavet.com)

 

 

 

Pampas Grass

Pampas Grass
(Photocedit: Eurico Zimbres via Wikimedia Commons)

Impatiens mf

Impatiens
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Petunia wb

Petunia
(original graphic by marvistavet.com)

 

 

 

Rose mf

Rose
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Sword Fern

Sword Fern
(Photocredit: JenahsysJayde via Wikimedia Commons)

Sunflower mf

Sunflower
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

 

 

 

Zinnia mf

Zinnia
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com) 

Spider Plant mf

Spider Plant
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Persian Violet

Persian Violet
(Photocredit: Mokkie via Wikimedia Commons)

 

 

 

Boston Fern 2 wb

Boston Fern
(original graphic by marvistavet.com)

Echevaria succulents 2 wb

Echevaria succulents
(original graphic by marvistavet.com)

Celosia plumosa 2 wb

Celosia plumosa
(original graphic by marvistavet.com)

A Special Note About Catnip

Catnip was brought to America by early colonists and was considered to be a commercial crop. Numerous medicinal properties have been ascribed to catnip and it has been used in teas, soaks, and poultices. Today its uses are largely confined to feline entertainment as its active ingredient, cis-trans-nepetalactone, is a mild hallucinogen. Rubbing, rolling, and other merry-making actions are produced, though one should be careful as aggressive behavior is often made worse by catnip indulgence.

Response to catnip is inherited genetically as a dominant trait which means that not all cats will be affected. Further, kittens under age 6-8 weeks are not able to respond.

Catnip is felt to be a safe and non-addictive recreational drug for cats but there is some thinking that overdose can produce seizures. For this reason, it is best not used in cats with a history of seizures. Chronic exposure to catnip may cause an apparent loss of mental faculty and possibly personality change. Also, it is not a good idea to put catnip in a carrier or box for transportation as by the time the cat arrives, some unpleasant mental changes may be in progress making the cat more aggressive and more stressed than he/she would be had no hallucinogens been involved.

Catnip 2 mf

Catnip plant (Nepeta cataria)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Catnip can be a fun garden plant if the climate is right but can quickly turn into a weed problem if one is not careful. Catnip should be considered an occasional treat for cats able to respond to it.

 

TOXIC PLANTS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR PET SICK TEMPORARILY

The plants listed below are listed sometimes as “non-toxic” because they won’t hurt you in the big picture. They are also listed in other sources as “toxic” because you will be very sorry if you attempt to eat them. Some will release burning crystals into your mouth; others just induce vomiting and diarrhea. Think twice before planting them where the family pet might find them tempting.

Mother in laws tongue wiki

Mother-in-law’s tongue
(oxalate crystals in the plant embed in the
mouth causing pain and inflammation)

(Photocredit: Public Domain Graphic via Wikimedia Commons)

Calla lily mf

Calla lily
(oxalate crystals in the plant embed in the
mouth causing pain and inflammation)

(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Dumb Cane wiki

Dumb Cane
(oxalate crystals in the plant embed in the
mouth causing pain and inflammation)

(Photocredit: Mokkie via Wikimedia Commons)

 

 

 

 Pansy mf

Pansy (causes gastrointestinal upset)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Kalanchoe mf

Kalanchoe (causes gastrointestinal upset
and rarely heart rhythm disturbance)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Peace Lily mf

Peace Lily (oxalate crystals in the plant
embed in the mouth causing pain and inflammation)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

 

 

 

Geranium orig

Geranium
(causes upset stomach)
(original graphic by marvistavet.com)

Begonia wiki

Begonia
(oxalate crystals in the plant embed in
the mouth causing pain and inflammation)
(Photocredit: KENPEI via Wikimedia Commons)

Bird of Paradise orig

Bird of Paradise
(upset stomach and drowsiness)
(original graphic by marvistavet.com)

 

 

 

Aloe mf

Aloe
(causes upset stomach,
can also cause tremors)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Carnation mf

Carnation
 (causes upset stomach)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Chrysanthemum mf

Chrysanthemum
(causes upset stomach, drooling, incoordination)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

 

 

 

Elephant Ear mf

Elephant Ear
(causes intense burning of the mouth, vomiting)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Fleabane orig

Fleabane
(causes upset stomach)
(original graphic by marvistavet.com)

Gardenia mf

Gardenia
(causes upset stomach and hives)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com) 

 

 

 

Hibiscus mf

Hibiscus (causes upset
stomach & appetite loss)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com) 

Hydrangea mf

Hydrangea
(causes upset stomach)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Iris mf

Iris   (causes
upset stomach.
Bulb is most toxic)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

 

 

 

Pinks mf

Pinks (Dianthus)  (Causes
upset stomach and dermatitis)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Primrose mf

Primrose
(causes mild upset stomach)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Poinsettia mf

Poinsettia  (causes mouth
irritation and upset stomach)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

 

 

 

Coleus mf

Coleus
(causes vomiting/diarrhea
either of which can be bloody)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Bougainvillea wb

Bougainvillea
(can cause gastrointestinal upset)
(original graphic by marvistavet.com)

Cosmos orig

Cosmos  (can cause gastrointestinal upset)
(original graphic by marvistavet.com)

 

 

 

 

Plumbago

Plumbago
(causes contact dermatitis and makes
skin more sensitive to sun exposure)
(Photocredit: J.M. Garg via Wikimedia Commons)

 

 

PLANTS THAT CAN KILL YOUR PET

The following plants are poisonous and can cause death depending on the quantity ingested. It is probably best not to take any chances with these and keep them away from pets, children or anyone else you care about who might not have good sense about chewing on plants.

Cyclamen mf

Cyclamen
(causes heart arrhythmias if the root/tuber is eaten in large quantities, otherwise just upset stomach)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Azalea mf

Azalea
(Contains “grayanotoxin” which causes cardiovascular collapse)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Easter Lily

Easter Lily
(Causes kidney failure in cats)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

 

 

 

Sago Palm wiki

Sago Palm
(Causes liver failure and interferes with blood clotting)
(Public Domain Image /via Wikimedia Commons) 

Oleander wiki

Oleander
(Poisons the heart)
(Photocredit: Ian Fieggen via Wikimedia Commons

Foxglove mf

Foxglove
(Poisons the heart)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

 

 

 

 

Castor Bean mf

Castor Bean
(Causes convulsions, kidney failure, and rapid death).
(Photocredit: Undead_Warrior via Wikimedia Commons)

Castor Beans wiki

The beans are commonly
made into necklaces which are
also extremely lethal if chewed up
(Photocredit: H. Zell via Wikimedia Commons)

 

 

 

 

Tiger Lily mf

Tiger Lily
(Other Day Lilies such as those shown above also cause kidney failure in cats.)
(Photocredits: Morguefile.com)

Stargazer Lily mf

Star Gazer Lily
(Other Day Lilies such as those shown above also cause kidney failure in cats.)
(Photocredits: Morguefile.com)

Daffodil mf

Daffodil
(especially the bulb)
(Causes convulsions, tremors and heart arrhythmia)
(Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

 

Want more information or wondering about a plant we didn’t list? National Animal Poison Control has a searchable database with photographs at:

www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants

We also recommend keeping the phone number for National Animal Poison Control handy in case of emergency: 1-888-426-4435

 

Other Related Links:

This external link was put together by Rover and Pet Poison Helpline to review common household and garden plants which might be toxic to our pets. Common and scientific names of plants are listed and graphics are included. An excellent site for any pet owner to review.

https://www.rover.com/blog/poisonous-plants

Designing a Dog Friendly Garden:

www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/spaces/creating-a-dog-friendly-garden.htm

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Page last updated: 8/13/2020