COMMON  TOXINS

Plants and Foods Toxic to Pets

Here is a quick reference guide to common house and garden plants, foods, and other substances that are toxic to most animals.  If you have any of the items listed below inside your household, be sure to keep them out of reach of your pets.  Although it is impossible to list all possible poisons, this list may help you to prevent potential problems.

• Alcohol (all beverages, ethanol, methanol, isopropyl)
• Almonds
• Amaryllis Bulb
• Anthuriaum
• Apricot
• Autumn Crocus (Colchicum Autumnale)
• Avocado (leaves, seeds, stem, skin)
• Azalea (entire rhododendron family)
• Begonia
• Bird of Paradise
• Bittersweet
• Bleeding Heart
• Boxwood
• Bracken Fern
• Buckeye
• Buttercup (Ranunculus)
• Caffeine
• Caladium
• Calla Lily
• Castor Bean
• Cherry
• Chinese Sacred or Heavenly Bamboo
• Chocolate
• Choke Cherry
• Chrysanthemum
• Clematis
• Crocus Bulb
• Croton (Codiaeum sp.)
• Delphinium, Larkspur, Monkshood
• Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)
• Elderberry
• English Ivy (all Hedera species of ivy)
• Fig (Ficus)
• Four-o'clocks (Mirabilis)
• Foxglove (Digitalis)
• Garlic
• Grapes and raisins
• Hyacinth Bulb
• Hydrangea
• Holly Berries
• Iris Corms
• Jack-in-the-pulpit
• Jimsom Weed
• Kalanchoe
• Lantana
• Lily (bulbs of most species)
• Lily-of-the-valley
• Lupine Species
• Marijuana or hemp (Cannabis)
• Milkweed
• Mistletoe Berries
• Morning Glory
• Mountain Laurel
• Narcissus, Daffodil
• Oak (remove bark for use as a bird perch)
• Oleander
• Onions
• Peaches
• Pencil Cactus (Euphorbia sp.)
• Philodendron (all species)
• Poinsettia (including hybrids)
• Potato (leaves and stem)
• Rhubarb Leaves
• Rosary Pea (Arbus sp.)
• Scheffelera (umbrella plant)
• Shamrock (Oxalis sp.)
• Spurge (Euphorbia sp.)
• Tomatoes (leaves and stems)
• Yew

Other Harmful Substances (not limited to)

• Acetone
• Antifreeze
• Bleach
• Cigarettes, Nicotine Products, Smoke
• Cosmetics
• Crayons
  
• Drain Cleaners
• Fabric Softeners
• Fumes (smoke-filled air, insecticide spray, deodorizers, spray cleaners, fresh paint fumes, gas, and overheated Teflon [very toxic to birds])
• Household Cleaners and Disinfectants
• Insecticides
• Laundry Supplies
• Lead
• Mercury
• Rodent Poison
• Rust
• Suntan Lotion
• Wood Preservatives and Shilac

Always keep the telephone numbers for your veterinarian, emergency clinic and poison control readily available.  Note the time your pet was exposed to the toxin, the type of product ingested, the manufacturer's name and any ingredients listed on packaging.  To reach National Animal Poison Control Center, call (800)548-2423.  There is a charge for this service, which can be billed to a credit card or to your telephone bill.  Remember that time is of the essence!  When in doubt, contact your veterinarian!