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Deadly And Dangerous Plants Your
Pet May Find Appetizing
By Melanie McVarney
Plants are wonderful outdoors and indoors, and they are certainly
a beautiful addition to your home. However, if you have pets,
you may want to reconsider which plants you choose to have in
your house (and out if you have an outdoor dog). Some plants
are completely harmless if they are chewed or eaten, but some
are very toxic and can even cause death. Because dogs are naturally
curious and will often eat anything, it is a good idea to doggie-proof
your house where plants are concerned. Here is a brief list
of several plants that are harmful to your pet if ingested.
The first plant on the list is the Azalea (Rhododendron sp.).
This is a poisonous plant, though consumption does not usually
result in death, it does cause severe irritation. The symptoms
of ingestion include stomach irritation, abdominal pain, an
abnormal heart rate or rhythm, and convulsions. Sometimes, in
great quantities of Azalea consumption, a coma and/or death
can result.
Castor bean (Ricinus communis) is a common
plant that can be very harmful if it is eaten. The primary toxic
ingredient in this plant is called ricin. Ricin has been used
as poison for decades, and about 1 milligram is enough to kill
an adult human. These plants may be grown as an ornamental plant,
or they can be a household plant. Though the seeds are primarily
the most harmful part of the plant, consider the whole plant
toxic. The symptoms of ingestion are vomiting, abdominal pain,
bloody diarrhea, shortness of breath, dehydration with excessive
thirst and muscle twitching or convulsions.
English Ivy (Hedera helix L.) is a beautiful
plant that can be found almost anywhere. They are gorgeous and
elegant as they climb up the side of the house, or as they hang
from a plant holder in your home. English Ivy’s beauty may be
deceiving, since this plant is very toxic to dogs if consumed.
The symptoms of ingestion include stomach irritation, diarrhea,
difficulty breath and coma resulting in death.
Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense) is not a
household plant, but it grows heavily in meadows, fields, by
rivers, ponds and lakes. So if you live in a rural area and
have a pet that loves to roam around outside, you will want
to be familiar with the appearance and symptoms of Johnson grass
poisoning. The symptoms of consumption include difficulty breathing,
severe anxiety, convulsions and coma. There is an antidote available,
so be sure to take your dog to the vet as quickly as possible
if you suspect Johnson grass poisoning.
Lantana is the final plant that is harmful
if eaten. It is a popular plant that adorns gardens almost everywhere.
It does not always cause death, but it can in severe cases.
The leaves and berries of the Lantana plant are the most toxic
part. The symptoms of ingestion include weakness, sluggishness,
and bloody diarrhea. If the case is severe, death will occur
within 2 to 4 days time.
Protecting your pets by considering what plants you put in your
home and in your garden is an important thing to do. Since you
can’t keep an eye on your pets all the time, the safest and
best solution is to simply remove these plants or avoid them
altogether so there won’t be an accident. Your pets will thank
you for keeping them safe!
About the Author:
Visit Dog-Training-Collars.org
and Hunting
Dog News for more great content.
Source: www.isnare.com
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