SPRING FLOWERS AND PETS - BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS, HIDDEN RISKS

Spring Flowers And Pets

Beautiful Blooms, Hidden Risks

Spring in Melbourne brings our gardens alive. Roses, daffodils, jonquils, tulips, jasmine, hydrangeas and countless other flowers begin blooming, and it is tempting to bring a few beautiful stems indoors to brighten the house.

But before you cut flowers from the garden and put them into a vase, there is an important question to ask, are they actually safe for your pets?

Many of us know that certain plants are poisonous to dogs, but cats are particularly vulnerable to a number of flowering plants. Cats can also be exposed in ways we don't necessarily consider "eating" a plant, including brushing against flowers, getting pollen on their coat and then grooming themselves, or drinking water from a vase.

And unfortunately, common names can make plant identification confusing. Not every plant called a "lily" is equally toxic, while some extremely dangerous lilies can look like perfectly ordinary garden flowers.

THE NUMBER ONE RULE FOR CAT OWNERS - NO TRUE LILIES

If you share your home with a cat, Lilium and Hemerocallis species should never be brought into the house.

This includes many of the lilies commonly found in bouquets and Melbourne gardens, including:

• Easter lilies
• Oriental lilies
• Asiatic lilies
• Stargazer lilies
• Tiger lilies
• Japanese show lilies
• Rubrum lilies
• Daylilies

These are particularly dangerous because every part of the plant can be toxic to cats, flowers, leaves, stems, pollen and even the water in the vase.

A cat does not have to sit down and eat a flower for exposure to occur. Pollen can land on the coat or paws and subsequently be swallowed during grooming. Even very small exposures can result in severe kidney injury.

The early signs can be deceptively non-specific, drooling, vomiting, lethargy, reduced appetite and dehydration. As kidney damage develops, the situation can become life threatening.

If you suspect your cat has chewed, licked or been exposed to a true lily, do not wait for symptoms. This is an emergency and veterinary treatment should be sought immediately.

But What About The Other Spring Flowers?

Lilies aren't the only flowers worth knowing about. Many of Melbourne's familiar spring bulbs contain compounds that can irritate the gastrointestinal tract. The bulb is often the most concentrated and dangerous part, which is particularly important for dogs that like digging, but cats can also be affected.

Daffodils & Jonquils

Daffodils and jonquils are incredibly common in Melbourne gardens and are often brought indoors as cut flowers.

They contain toxic compounds, with the bulbs presenting the greatest risk. Ingestion can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. More significant exposures, particularly involving bulbs, can result in cardiovascular effects including abnormal heart rhythms, low blood pressure and, in severe cases, seizures.

So while you may not need to remove every daffodil from your garden, don't allow pets to dig up or chew the bulbs, and don't assume that a pretty vase of daffodils is automatically pet safe.

Tulips

Tulips are another common spring bulb. The bulb contains the highest concentration of the irritating compounds, but chewing plant material can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort.

Again, the risk is particularly relevant to curious dogs that dig, but cats who nibble plants should also be discouraged.

Hyacinths

Hyacinths are another popular spring bulb and can cause gastrointestinal irritation if eaten. The bulbs are particularly concentrated in their toxic compounds.

Their strong fragrance also makes them a popular choice for bringing indoors, so remember that "natural" does not automatically mean pet safe.

A Few Other Melbourne Garden Favourites To Know About

Spring and early summer gardens can contain many plants that aren't necessarily fatal but can still cause significant illness.

Azaleas and rhododendrons are particularly important. They contain grayanotoxins throughout the plant, including the flowers and nectar. Ingestion can cause drooling, vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness, wobbliness and, with larger exposures, neurological and cardiovascular problems. Both dogs and cats can be affected.

Foxglove (Digitalis) is another beautiful cottage garden favourite. Unfortunately, its attractive flowers contain cardiac glycosides that can interfere with the electrical activity of the heart. Poisoning can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, lethargy and abnormal heart rhythms, and severe poisoning can be life threatening.

Oleander is another plant where beauty certainly doesn't equal safety. The leaves, flowers and seeds contain cardiac glycosides that can affect the heart. Cats, dogs and many other animals can be poisoned if they ingest it.

Hydrangeas, increasingly common in Melbourne gardens, can also cause gastrointestinal irritation if eaten, including vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.

Other plants that may be encountered around Australian gardens include daphne, lantana, jasmine, delphiniums, cyclamen and various other bulbs and ornamental plants. The degree of toxicity varies considerably between species, which is why correct plant identification is so important.

What About Roses?

Roses are generally considered a much safer choice for a household with pets, provided they have not been treated with pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or other garden chemicals, this is an important point that is sometimes overlooked.

The plant itself may be relatively safe, but what has been sprayed onto the plant is another matter entirely.

If you are cutting flowers from your garden for your home, only use flowers that you know have not recently been treated with potentially harmful garden products. Never assume that "organic" or "natural" automatically means harmless to cats.

Cut Flowers, The Vase Can Be Part Of The Problem..

When we think about poisonous flowers, we usually think about the petals, but pets can also be exposed through:

Pollen – particularly important with true lilies because cats may get pollen onto their coat and ingest it while grooming.

Leaves and stems – curious cats may chew greenery that has been added to a bouquet.

Vase water – water from a vase containing toxic lilies can potentially contain enough toxin to pose a risk to cats.

Fallen petals – a flower that has dropped onto the floor may become a tempting toy or snack.

This is why simply putting a potentially toxic bouquet "out of reach" isn't always enough for cats. Cats climb, investigate and groom themselves extremely efficiently.

Why Are Cats So Different?

Cats are not simply small dogs when it comes to poisoning. Their metabolism and liver pathways differ from those of dogs, and they can be particularly sensitive to certain plant toxins. They are also meticulous groomers, meaning that something sitting on the fur can ultimately end up being swallowed.

This is one reason why the classic advice of "my cat didn't actually eat the flower" isn't necessarily reassuring.

If your cat has walked through lily pollen, for example, grooming can turn an external exposure into an internal one.

Should I Remove Every Flower From My Garden? Thankfully, no, the aim isn't to create a sterile, flower free garden.

Most plant exposures do not result in severe poisoning, and the level of risk depends on the particular plant, the part eaten, the amount consumed and the individual animal.

Instead, we want to become better at plant identification and sensible prevention.

For cats, however, we recommend taking a much harder line with Lilium and Hemerocallis lilies, don't grow them where cats can access them and don't bring them inside.

For other plants, consider your individual pet. A cat that ignores the garden is very different from a kitten that chews every leaf in sight.

Before You Cut Flowers From Your Garden, ask yourself:

1. Do I know exactly what plant this is?
A common name isn't always enough. Look for the botanical name if you're uncertain.

2. Is it safe for cats?
If you have a cat, be particularly cautious about anything described simply as a "lily".

3. Has the plant been sprayed?
Consider pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers and other garden products.

4. Could my pet access the vase?
Remember that cats can reach much higher places than we expect.

5. Could pollen, leaves or petals fall onto the floor?

6. What happens if my pet decides to have a drink from the vase?

If you can't confidently answer these questions, it's safer to choose a known pet safe flower instead.

A Safer Approach To Spring Flowers

If you love bringing the garden indoors, consider choosing flowers that are known to be suitable for pets and still check the exact species and any chemicals used on them.

Some commonly suggested cut flower alternatives include gerberas, carnations and certain daisies, although no plant should be assumed completely risk free simply because it is considered "pet safe".

And remember, individual pets vary. Even a non-toxic plant can cause vomiting or diarrhoea if a pet eats a large quantity.

What If My Pet Has Eaten A Flower?

Don't wait until your pet becomes unwell before asking for advice. Remove access to the plant and, if possible, keep a sample or take a clear photograph of the plant so that it can be accurately identified. Do not induce vomiting or give home remedies unless specifically instructed by a veterinarian or animal poison service.

For Australian pet owners, the Animal Poisons Helpline is available on 1300 869 738 for advice about potential poisoning.

And remember our most important message for cat owners this spring, If you have a cat, think twice before bringing flowers home, a beautiful bouquet can contain a plant that is potentially life threatening.

When it comes to true lilies, there is no safe amount for cats, leave the lilies out.

A little plant knowledge can go a very long way towards keeping our pets safe while still allowing us to enjoy everything beautiful about spring.