"Did you know?" by Dr. Catherine Adams at Pet Poison Helpline

DID YOU KNOW……?

As colorful and welcome as they are, many spring blooms and bulbs cause problems for curious pets who investigate them. Clinical signs can be separated into five main categories.

Contact dermatitis: Hyacinth, narcissus (daffodils, jonquils), and tulips are all associated with dermatitis, either from contact allergens or insoluble calcium oxalate crystals found in the sap.

Mild to severe GI irritation: Crocus, snowdrop, hyacinth, grape hyacinth, tulips, cyclamen, gladiolus, iris, narcissus, and jack-in-the-pulpit can all be irritating to the GIT. The severity of signs depends on the amount ingested, condition of the plant (many plants are more palatable when stressed from frost or drought), soil condition, and climate.

Severe multisystemic signs: Colchicum (autumn crocus) or gloriosa superb (glory lily) ingestion can result in hypersalivation, vomiting, hemorrhagic diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, depression, weakness, collapse, and death. Signs may not occur for 24-72 hours after ingestion due to the slow absorption of colchicine. Do not confuse Colchicum (autumn crocus) with Crocus (spring crocus). If there is any doubt, treat as colchicum toxicity until accurate plant identification is confirmed.

Renal toxicity: Renal failure in cats from all parts of most lily species has been documented for several years. What began over 10 years ago as poisonings associated with Easter Lilies has spread to include just about every species of lily. This does not include the “peace lily” which is truthfully not a lily at all.

Cardiotoxic problems: Ingestion of all parts of the lily-of-the-valley has been associated with vomiting, hemorrhagic diarrhea, abdominal pain, bradycardia, heart block, asystole, seizures, coma, and death. The rhizome has the highest concentration of cardiotoxins and may result in the most severe signs.

And remember!! -------Bone and blood meal fertilizers, old moldy fertilizer, or carbamate/organophosphate products may be consumed along with plant parts. Even the water that the cut daffodils stood in can be harmful if enough is ingested.