ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Offers Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Lawn Care Product SafetyAmerican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Find out which plants, fungi and lawn care products are toxic to dogs and cats. 1. What plants are toxic to pets? Cardiotoxic plants: (affect the heart) Plants that could cause kidney failure: 
Plants that could cause liver failure: Plants that could cause multiple effects: Fungi (Mushrooms) 2. What should pet owners do if they suspect their animal has ingested a poisonous plant or mushroom? What symptoms should they look for? If a pet owner suspects that their animal ingested a poisonous plant, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. It's advised to bring part of the plant to a nursery for identification if the exact species is not known. Symptoms of poisonings can include almost any clinical sign. The animal may even appear completely normal for several hours or days. 3. Is there a way for pet owners to train or teach their pets not to eat poisonous plants or mushrooms? A pet owner could train their pets to avoid certain areas of their home or yard where there are poisonous plants. However, the safest method would be to prevent exposure by removing the plants from the pet's home and yard. 4. What about pesticides and fertilizers that might be in the garage or tool shed? Make sure your pets do not go on lawns or in gardens treated with fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides until the time listed on the label by the manufacturer. If you are uncertain about the usage of any product, contact the manufacturer for clarification before using it. Always store pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides in areas that are inaccessible to your pets - read the label carefully for proper usage and storage instructions. The most serious problems resulting from fertilizer ingestion in pets are usually due to the presence of heavy metals such as iron. Ingestion of large amounts of fertilizer could cause severe gastric upset and possibly gastrointestinal obstruction. The most dangerous forms of pesticides include: snail bait containing metaldehyde, fly bait containing methomyl, systemic insecticides containing disyston or disulfoton, zinc phosphide containing mole or gopher bait and most forms of rat poisons. When using pesticides place the products in areas that are totally inaccessible to your companion animals. Always store pesticides in secured areas and according to label directions. 5) Can cocoa bean mulch products be dangerous to dogs? Cocoa bean mulch products can contain residues of a caffeine-like substance called theobromine, in varying amounts. Dogs consuming enough cocoa bean mulch could potentially develop signs similar to that of chocolate poisoning, including vomiting and diarrhea, and in cases where very large amounts of mulch have been consumed, muscle tremors or other more serious neurological signs could occur. One key point to remember is that some dogs, particularly those with indiscriminate eating habits, can be attracted to any organic matter. Therefore, if you have a dog with such eating habits, it is important that your dog not be left unsupervised or allowed in areas where such materials are being used. For more toxicology tips or to view a toxic and non-toxic plant list, visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's website at http://www.apcc.aspca.org.
For more information, or to contact American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, see their website at: www.aspca.org |
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