Some houseplants and flowers pose a threat to pets, warns veterinarian Marina Uspenskaya.
“All parts of lily plants are toxic, especially the flowers. Even the water in which cut flowers have been placed can be dangerous. Such plants include tulips and lilies of the valley, which often appear in homes by March 8,” notes the expert.
The veterinarian emphasizes that the toxins in lily plants can cause serious kidney problems. This can lead to acute organ failure, increasing the risk of death within 3-6 days.
The sap of amaryllis plants, such as amaryllis and hippeastrum, also poses a danger to domestic cats and dogs. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and excessive salivation. In cases of severe poisoning, inflammation of the stomach and intestines may occur.
Equally toxic are members of the arum family, including philodendron, peace lily, monstera, calla lilies, dieffenbachia, and alocasia.
“The main symptoms of poisoning from arum plants include vomiting, loss of appetite (anorexia), decreased activity, polyuria (increased urination), and polydipsia (increased thirst), as well as changes in consciousness. The sap of dieffenbachia can cause burns to mucous membranes, corneas of the eyes, and skin, while the sap of alocasia can cause numbness,” warns Uspenskaya.
Additionally, plants such as onions, garlic, and snowdrop daffodils, which belong to the onion subfamily, should be kept away from pets. Their leaves contain essential oils that can cause damage to red blood cells and hemolytic anemia in animals.
Less dangerous, but still toxic, are aloe, ivy, sago, trichocereus cactus, and many other ornamental plants.
To protect pets, Uspenskaya recommends placing houseplants in areas inaccessible to animals or completely refraining from keeping them.
