Easter Flowers and toxicity

 If you are like me, I love spring and all the flowers that come with this season of new growth. But with that, I love my animals more and we have to be extra careful letting the flowers and animals be together. 
 It's Easter time and Lilies are a favorite but they can pose a serious danger to your cat or dog. 
 Not all lilies are dangerous, and it's important to know the difference. The following lilies are HIGHLY TOXIC to cats and dogs! Even small ingestions of the petals, leaves or even the pollen and water that collects in their container can result in severe, acute kidney failure. Also, dogs who dig up lily tubers can be harmed. 
  List Of Dangerous Lilies 
 The more dangerous, potentially fatal lilies are true lilies of the Lilium or Hemerocallis species. Examples of some of these dangerous lilies include the following:

•  Easter lilies
• Star lilies
• Lily of the Valley
• Glory lilies 
• Tiger lilies 
• Day lilies
• Asiatic hybrid lilies 
• Japanese show lilies 
• Rubrum lilies
• Stargazer lilies
• Red lilies 
• Western lilies
• Wood lilies 

  If you suspect your dog or cat has ingested a dangerous amount of lily, they may start vomiting, foaming at the mouth, hiding, distress or difficulty breathing. Immediate treatment for poisoning from a true lily is essential, so if you suspect lily toxicity, please bring your pet and a portion of the plant to us or the emergency clinic right away. 
  List of Less-Dangerous Lilies
  While not completely harmless, the following lilies pose less threat to a cat:

•  Peace lilies
• Peruvian lilies
• Calla lilies
• Rain lilies
• Cranium lilies

   However, these "benign" types of lilies can cause minor symptoms including tissue irritation to the mouth, tongue, pharynx, and esophagus. If your cat eats a benign lily, have them flush out their mouth with something appetizing such as broth and call us or the emergency clinic if the symptoms persist.
 I've provided a list of plants that you should keep away from animals and a list that is pet friendly plants for you. We want to keep our furry friends safe and also enjoy the beautiful plants this world of ours has to offer.
Happy Easter everyone. 
​                      ~~Wendi