If you enjoy spending time working on your garden while your pet frisks about, be sure to keep a careful eye on him. Whether you have a cat or a dog, you already know your pet is more than just a little bit curious about his surroundings and your actions. He may even go so far as to sniff and nibble the plants you are tending. This can be more than just frustrating for you; it can also be dangerous for your pet, especially if you are handling a plant that is toxic when ingested by animals.

As a responsible pet parent, you are most likely aware that the moment your back is turned, your pet will take the opportunity to get into trouble, including eating things that are bad for him. Since we can’t monitor our pets all the time, we need to be sure our houses and yards are as safe as possible for them.

Though you may know the plants in your house and the flowers in your garden, you may not be aware of potentially harmful plants on your daily walk or on the edges of the nearby dog park. Taking some time to understand the local flora and the risks they may pose to your dog or cat is an important step towards keeping your pet safe.

Although there are dozens of plants that are considered toxic to pets, it is interesting that the ASPCA has determined the 5 deadliest plants to be some of the most popular as flower shop gifts:

• Lilies – can damage your pet’s kidneys, cause nausea, vomiting, and slow his heartbeat. They are especially toxic to cats. Lilies come in many varieties, including Calla, Tiger, and English Bluebells. The Stargazer variety pictured here are very fragrant and popular.
• Azaleas (a subgenera of rhododendron) – can cause vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, coma and potentially death. These are commonly given as gifts from a flower shop.
• Oleanders – can cause colic, sweating, loss of coordination, difficulty breathing, muscle tremors, and possibly cardiac failure and death.
• Sago Palms – can cause vomiting, excessive thirst, liver damage and failure, and potentially death. This is also highly poisonous to humans. It can be found outdoors in warmer climates, and is a common indoor plant as well.
• Castor Beans – can cause oral irritation, vomiting, kidney failure, abdominal pain, convulsions, loss of appetite, excessive thirst, loss of coordination, coma, and potentially death due to containing highly toxic levels of ricin. It is indigenous to Africa, but now is planted and thrives in many areas of the world and is often used as decoration in gardens, both public and private.

Though all of these plants are beautiful and add a nice touch to one’s home or garden, they all have very dangerous side effects if consumed by pets.

Of course, this does not mean you cannot have a safe and visually stunning garden, indoors or out. Plants such as ferns, orchids, African violets, and bamboo are attractive indoor plants that won’t harm your dog. Ferns, sunflowers, snapdragons, or cape primroses are safe plants to have around cats. Other plants such as yucca, gardenias, blue daisies and Christmas orchids are not considered toxic, however they may cause your pet mild stomach upset such as diarrhea or vomiting.

For an outside garden full of beautiful and edible flowers, consider planting any of these:

• Carnations (with pink petals)
• Petunias
• Impatiens
• Pansies
• Nasturtiums
• Hibiscus Flowers
• Geraniums (except the Pelargonium)
• Lavender

Keep in mind, that though you may have a safe garden, your pet can still get in trouble and require emergency trips to the vet, especially if you suspect he ate something poisonous. It is therefore wise to keep a vigilant eye out for serious pet health symptoms.