4 South Florida Plants Toxic to Cats & Dogs

We LOVE living in South Florida! It’s truly a tropical paradise filled with an abundance of beautiful flora and fauna. Unfortunately, sometimes that beauty can pack a deadly punch!

Whether in your yard or home, these four common South Florida plants are toxic (and potentially deadly!) to your cats and dogs.

1) Sago Palms – All parts of the palm are poisonous, but the seeds are most toxic to dogs and cats. The seeds are bright orange or red, the size of a walnut, and found on the ground around the palm. Symptoms are GI issues including vomiting, lethargy, and abnormal bleeding. In cats it also attacks their liver. If not treated immediately in can cause irreversible neurological problems in both dogs and cats.

2) Bird of Paradise – The fruit and seeds of this plant are the most toxic to pets. They can cause moderate to severe symptoms including GI irritation such as nausea, vomiting, reduced appetite, and drooling. Labored breathing, lethargy, ataxia (loss of motor functions), and muscle tremors are also common.

3) Aloe Vera – All parts of this plant are poisonous to cats. Although death is rare in cats, it can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. For dogs all parts of the leaves are mildly to severely toxic. Symptoms in dogs usually include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, muscle tremors, and can cause kidney failure.

4) Lilies – This plant is more toxic in cats than dogs. All parts of the flower including the stem, bud, pollen, and even the water kept in the vase with plant is toxic to cats. Cats show lethargy, drooling, nausea, vomiting, uncontrollable urination, and irreversible acute kidney issues. Lilies are rarely lethal to dogs, but cause mild to severe GI issues, dehydration, and kidney damage.

Should you EVER have concerns that your pet has ingested a toxic substance and are showing symptoms of poisoning you should immediately contact your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 436-4435.

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