Seven spring plants vet warns could harm - and potentially kill - your pets
Gardens burst into colour and life during spring, inspiring many to add plants to their garden.
But if you have cats and dogs it's important to know which plants are safe for your furry friends and which ones are toxic.
For some pet owners, the plants may already be on their property or encountered by cats and dogs during a walk.
Tradescantia spathacea, commonly known as Moses-in-the-cradle is toxic to pets. Getty
Dr Heather Burton, Veterinary Advisor at Budget Pet Products, revealed seven plants to watch out for.
"Some of the most beautiful plants in our gardens, including lilies, oleander and sago palm, are also among the most toxic for pets. Pet owners are often unaware of the risks until their dog or cat shows worrying symptoms," she said.
Wandering trad and Moses-in-the-cradle
Wandering trad is an environmental weed in Australia. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Our furry friends don't even need to eat some plants to be affected, especially dogs with sensitive skin.
"Pets who brush past or lie on these ground covers can develop red, itchy rashes, especially on their belly, paws, and muzzle," Dr Burton says.
Wandering trad is a succulent groundcover and actually considered an environmental weed that displaces native plants. It is particularly prevalent in eastern New South Wales, south-east Queensland and the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria.
Moses-in-the-cradle, meanwhile, is considered an environmental weed in Queensland but is a popular accent plant and for ground cover and borders. It is also an indoor plant.
Lilies
These are an absolute no-go for cat owners as the tiniest exposure can be fatal.
"Just a nibble of the leaf, pollen on their fur, or even water from the vase can cause acute kidney failure if swallowed," Dr Burton said.
"For dogs, lilies are less deadly but can still cause stomach upset and kidney damage."
Lilies are a popular plant for bouquets and gifts so keep that in mind when giving flowers to a cat owner. They are also a summer flowering bulb that look stunning planted in clumps in the garden.
Peace lilies are a different plant, typically kept indoors and mild to moderately toxic to cats.
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Hydrangeas
A popular plant in Aussie gardens, even if you don't have hydrangeas dogs often encounter them on walks and cats could find them if they often visit the neighbours.
"They contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and depression in pets," explains Dr Heather. "Even dried petals can pose a risk if ingested," Dr Burton said.
Hydrangeas are planted in both pots and the ground and bloom from November to February in Australia. They are also common decorative flowers inside the home both fresh in vases and dried.
Hydrangeas are beautiful, but not a good idea for cat and dog owners. Getty
Daffodils
One of the first signs of spring, daffodils aren't just dangerous when they sprout or bloom as the bulbs are the most concerning part.
"All parts of the plant are toxic, particularly the bulbs. Ingesting them can lead to severe vomiting, abdominal pain, and even heart rhythm abnormalities," Dr Burton explained.
Daffodils are planted during autumn so that they are ready to bloom in spring. They are often planted en mass for vibrant bold displays of colour. You'll also find them sold as cut flowers to put in a vase and displayed in pots both inside and outside the home.
The bulbs of daffodils are particularly poisonous to dogs. Getty
Oleander
This shrub with its pretty flowers is toxic to both cats and dogs, as well as humans.
It can lead to vomiting, drooling, diarrhoea, weakness and heart failure.
It might be worth avoiding oleander even if you don't have pets in the yard because the plant can irritate human skin and even smoke from burning oleander is toxic.
Oleander is a hardy plant but it can displace native plants.
Oleanders are toxic to everyone. Getty
Sago palm
This spiky plant can also cause severe poisoning to dogs with as little as one seed being reported to have caused death.
The liver, digestive and nervous system are all affected by the toxins in sago palm.
Symptoms include vomiting drooling, lack of appetite, lethargy, diarrhoea, jaundice, weakness, stomach pain, bruising, pale gums, urinating blood and seizures.
Studies have found 50 per cent of sago palm dog poisoning cases lead to death. Getty
An ornamental plant, sago palms have been around more than 100 million years. They grow very slowly and can live up to 200 years. If the plant is male it will produce a cone, while female plants produce a flower.
"It's best not to have these plants in any garden where pets have access," Dr Burton said of oleander and sago palm.
Call your vet immediately if you suspect your pet has eaten something toxic.
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