Today, I thought I’d bring to attention some of the toxins that your fur baby can face when it comes to foods, plants, herbs, and essential oils.
Some of the things are common knowledge for the seasoned pet owner, but reiteration is key to preventing exposure and letting new owners in on the dangers. Some of these surprised me as well, especially eucalyptus oil in a diffuser - something I used to turn to for a cold ridden chest. Luckily, my diffuser is a tiny little little thing and barely gave off any of the aroma. However, Vaporub is safe to use as long as your fur baby doesn’t consume the product, because the amount of eucalyptus is quite minimal. Another surprise to me was the Bird of Paradise, which is quite prevalent throughout New Mexico. Much of the data I used for this article comes directly from the ASPCA, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a nonprofit dedicated to stopping animal cruelty in the U.S. Here is the link. They also help re-home the abused so they can have a safe and happy life. If you have room in your home as well as your heart, please adopt these little souls, they’ll be the best companion you could ask for. I saved my two and they are loyal, loving, and so thankful.
Foods
Chocolate/coffee/caffeine - Can cause heart arrhythmias, excessive thirst/urination,
agitation, make them hyper, can lead to seizures/tremors, or
death.
Coconut Water - High in potassium, which in large quantities can lead to blood in the
stool, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness, and collapse
Grapes/raisins - Kidney failure
Garlic/leeks/onions - Vomiting, breaks down red blood cells, causes blood in the urine,
weakness, increased heart rate/breathing
Macadamia Nuts - Depression, weakness in the rear limbs, tremors, and vomiting
Undercooked/Raw Meat/fish - Raw eggs have a enzyme that blocks the absorption of
biotin which is essential for healthy skin/coat. And raw meats/fish
can have salmonella.
Rhubarb - Kidney failure, tremors, salivation
Salty foods/snacks - Too much sodium leads to increased thirst/urination, diarrhea,
tremors, increased body temperatures, and can lead to death
Xylitol - A substance found in toothpaste, chewing gum, and some baking recipes can
lead to liver failure, low blood sugar, lethargy, vomiting, loss of
coordination, and seizures.
Yeast Dough - Can cause the stomach to bloat, twist and cramp. Ouch.
Plants: Indoor and Outdoor
All 4 Pawz, LLC is in Rio Rancho, NM and there is a long list of toxic plants from the ASPCA, so I’ve narrowed it down to more common local plants that pose more of a threat than nausea and diarrhea. Please check out the link for a complete list. Unless your fur baby makes a habit of eating plants and flowers, most of these are a minimal risk, but it’s still better to be cautious.
Aloe - The gel is fine, but the outer casing is toxic and can lead to vomiting, lethargy,
and diarrhea
Bird of Paradise - Can cause irritation in the mouth and throat leading to excessive
drooling/vomiting/and or diarrhea, along with difficulty swallowing.
Daffodil bulbs - Vomiting, cardiac arrhythmias, diarrhea, and convulsions if a large
amount is consumed.
Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane) - Oral irritation that can lead to difficulty swallowing,
excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea.
Foxglove (Digitalis) - Cardiac arrhythmias/failure, vomiting, diarrhea, death
Jade - Vomiting, incoordination, and depression
Marijuana - Depression, vomiting, increased salivation, low blood pressure/body
temperature, dilated pupils, seizures, death. Please stick with CBD only for
anxiety/pain/etc.
Milkweed - Weakness, depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, seizures, difficulty
breathing, rapid/weak heart rate, kidney/liver failure, paralysis, death.
Night Shade - Found everywhere in NM and is deadly to humans as well as pets. The
black berries contain solanine and saponins, both of which are like atropine,
which is an involuntary nervous system blocker. It causes behavior changes,
weakness, stomach upset, decreased heart rate, and dilated pupils.
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) - Oral irritation and difficulty swallowing, vomiting, and
excessive drooling
Portulaca - Weakness, depression, and diarrhea
Pothos - Can cause oral irritation, burning in the mouth, lips, and tongue, leading to
increased salivation and difficulty swallowing
Running Myrtle/vinca - Low blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors/
seizures, coma, and death
Shamrock - Tremors, excessive salivation, and very rarely kidney failure.
Split Leaf Philodendron - Oral irritation and difficulty swallowing,
Sago Palm - Increased thirst, diarrhea, liver failure, jaundice, dark stools and possibly
bloody vomit.
Wisteria - Diarrhea, sometimes bloody vomiting, depression
Herbs
Chamomile - Vomiting, diarrhea, and contact dermatitis
Chives - Causes hemolytic anemia, which breaks down red blood cells, increases the
heart rate, and can lead to blood in the urine
Parsley - In large amounts it can cause the skin to become sensitive to the sun
Essential Oils
Can cause vomiting, excessive drooling, lethargy, red tint to the lips/gums/skin, difficulty breathing, tremors, low heart rate and body temperature, and lung inflammation.
• Tea Tree • Wintergreen • Pennyroyal • Citrus • Peppermint
• Cinnamon • Sweet Birch • Yang Yang • Eucalyptus • Pine
If your fur baby is exposed to essential oils and showing symptoms, get them into fresh air and wash off the oil with soap and water if it gets in their fur. If they eat the oil, it is best to get them to the vet as soon as possible, rather than inducing vomiting at home, because the oil can cause swelling in the airways.
I recommend sticking with lavender, myrrh, frankincense, cedar wood, chamomile, rosemary, and bergamot. For the essential oil blends - Forest, English Garden, Ocean Breeze, etc, find the ingredients list just to be safe. If they don’t say what oils are used, don’t use the product, just to be on the safe side.
Plant Therapy is made in America and they are cruelty free, environmentally friendly, and organic. This one is particularly good - Plant Therapy Organic Lavender oil. They sell sets as well, but the ones I found contain at least one oil that is toxic to dogs, but the prices are unbeatable and the product is “Climate Pledge Friendly”.
I hope you find this list helpful.
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