If they put balm in the heart and beautify our gardens as our interiors, some plants can be deadly! List of plants dangerous for our animals and advice to avoid poisoning our faithful companions.

Plants don't have many ways to protect themselves from predators. So many species develop irritating or toxic defenses via their sap, leaves or flowers. Some plants can be toxic to our animals company - they are the second cause of intoxication for them . The list is long, but you don't need to lock up your pet or raze your entire garden: here are the most dangerous.

Which houseplants are toxic to dogs and cats?

• aloe vera : its sap is dangerous for animals.
• amaryllis : all parts of the plant are poisonous, even to us humans.
• avocado : less known, but avocado can be toxic to birds and other animals. Don't let them nibble on its skin or core.
• cycas : these palms can be planted indoors or outdoors depending on the climate. Its leaves should not be eaten.
• ficus : it contains latex, toxic if swallowed or in contact. Poisoning usually takes place after the animal has chewed its leaves.
• yucca : This trendy plant can have devastating effects on a cat if it devours large quantities.

Which outdoor plants are toxic to animals?

In your garden, always supervise your young animals , more curious and less suspicious, they might be tempted to nibble on plants that contain poison, such as:

• aconite : this plant is very toxic if swallowed.
• tube : a few leaves are enough to kill a dog, the lethal dose is low. Sometimes horses are also poisoned by this plant.
• cyclamen : its sap is irritating and its rhizome can be deadly.
• iris : its bulb is toxic. Other bulbous plants can be poisonous, be careful not to let your pet access the place where you store them or when planting them: a young dog could try to dig them up to taste them.
• laurier-rose : this plant is a poison for all the animals and even for the man. All parts of the plant are poisonous.
• light : the cat is particularly sensitive to it, the ingestion of a single leaf can be fatal. Generally speaking, the entire Liliaceae family is toxic to our whiskered little balls of hair.
• horse chestnut : do not let your dog nibble the chestnuts on the ground, they are toxic. The other species are more rarely exposed to poisoning, because they are less tempted to eat it, but all animals are sensitive to it.
• muguet : this flower also belongs to the Liliaceae family, it is extremely toxic. Even the water in the vase in which it is kept is poisoned, be careful that no animal (or human) ingests it. It is one of the first causes of poisoning of chats , which usually occur around May 1st.
• pieris : its leaves are poisonous.
• ricin : because of the presence of ricin, the whole plant is dangerous, but the seeds are more particularly so.
• rhododendron :  the whole plant is toxic and this is also valid for its cousin the azalea.

Also watch out for exposure to these wild plants: belladonna, hogweed, nightshade, vérâtre ....

What if my pet has been exposed to a poisonous plant?

Here are the disorders that your animal can develop in the event of ingestion of a poison: hypersalivation, vomiting, diarrhoea, prostration, agitation, convulsion, paralysis, coma, asphyxia, cough, incontinence...

Identify the plant he swallowed, take a photo if you don't know it and estimate the dose ingested. Do not give any antidote on your own without seeking professional advice. You can also contact the hotline 7 days a week National Center for Veterinary Toxicological Information (CNITV) aw +33 (0)4 78 87 10 40.

Source journaldesfemmes.fr