Pet owners in London should be wary of toxic garden plants which could lead to fatal consequences for their cats and dogs.
According to findings from the insurance company MORE TH>N, over three quarters (78%) of Britain’s gardens contain plants that are toxic to cats and dogs.
Almost 10% of cats and dogs have fallen ill after eating dangerous plants and nearly half of these needed urgent veterinary care, with 15% of them tragically passing away.
Despite the risks, one in three pet owners admitted they don't know what is classed as a 'toxic plant' and London is not immune to the risks for animals.
Foraging expert Andy Overall, of the London Fungus Group, said Londoners should be aware of plants and mushrooms which could poison dogs in particular.
"Generally dogs will not eat wild mushrooms but if they were to eat such mushrooms as the Death Cap or some of the small Parasol mushrooms among others, they will be seriously, if not fatally poisoned," said Andy.
"There is of course the added angle to this, in that some mushrooms that may be fine for us to eat, may not be fine for dogs to eat.
"In general, feeding any mushrooms to dogs, is not a good idea, as they are very fibrous and may take an age to break down in the dogs digestion system."
He added: "The message would be to keep an eye on what you dog is up to when you take it out for walk in autumn, deter it from picking things up and if it looks like it has eaten mushrooms, take it straight to the vet with an example of the mushroom it has eaten."
Last year, the National Poisons Information Service were consulted on 84 cases of people falling ill from wild mushrooms and Public Health have warned people of the dangers involved for both humans or animals consuming wild plants.
Director of the NPIS unit in Cardiff Dr John Thompson said: "When it comes to wild mushrooms people really need to be aware of the very real potential dangers involved."
Signs of poisoning in cats and dogs
With many pet owners admitting they do not know the signs of poisoning in cats and dogs, here's what you should look out for:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Drooling or hypersalivating
- Weakness, lethargy and nausea
- Black stool
Absence or decreased urination
If you're concerned about your pet after they have eaten a plant, leading vets advise you take some of the plant and your cat or dog to the veterinary surgery as soon as possible.
A summary of common toxic plants to avoid in the garden:
| PLANT NAME | POISONOUS FOR CATS | POISONOUS FOR DOGS |
| ALOE VERA | ✔ | ✔ |
| AMARYLLIS (BULBS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| ANGELS TRUMPET (BRUGMANSIA) | ✔ | ✔ |
| APPLE (SEEDS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| APRICOTS (KERNELS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| ASPARAGUS FERN | ✔ | ✔ |
| AVOCADO (FRUIT, PITH, LEAVES) | ✔ | ✔ |
| AZALEA (ALL PARTS) | Rare | ✔ |
| BABY’S BREATH | ✔ | ✔ |
| BEGONIA | ✔ | ✔ |
| BIRD OF PARADISE (PODS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| BISHOP’S WEED | ✔ | ✔ |
| BLEEDING HEART (DICENTRA FORMOSA) | ✔ | ✔ |
| BLUEBELL | ✔ | ✔ |
| BUXUS / BOX (ALL PARTS, MOSTLY LEAVES) | ✔ | ✔ |
| CARNATION | ✔ | ✔ |
| CLEMATIS (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| CORDYLINE (GRASS PALM) | ✔ | ✔ |
| CROCUS (ALL) | ✔ | ✔ |
| CHRYSANTHEMUM (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| CYCLAMEN (FOLIAGE, FLOWERS, STEMS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| DAFFODIL (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| DAISY | ✔ | ✔ |
| DAHLIA | ✔ | ✔ |
| DAPHNE (BERRIES, BARK, LEAVES) | ✔ | ✔ |
| DEADLY NIGHTSHADE | ✔ | ✔ |
| DELPHINIUM (ALL PARTS ESPECIALLY THE SPROUTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| ELEPHANTS EARS (LEAVES, STEMS, ROOTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| ELDERBERRY (LEAVES, BARK, ROOTS AND BUDS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| EUCALYPTUS (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| FOXGLOVE / DIGITALIS (LEAVES, STEMS, FLOWERS, SEEDS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| GARLIC | ✔ | ✔ |
| GARDENIA | ✔ | ✔ |
| GERANIUM (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| GLADIOLA (BULBS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| GRAPE PLANT/VINE | N/A | ✔ |
| HELLEBORE | ✔ | ✔ |
| HIBISCUS | ✔ | ✔ |
| HOLLY (LEAVES, BERRIES & STEMS) | ✔ | Rare |
| HOSTA | Rare | ✔ |
| HYACINTH (BULBS, LEAVES, FLOWERS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| HYDRANGEA (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| IRIS (BULBS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| IVY (ALL SPECIES – LEAVES, BERRIES) | Rare | ✔ |
| JAPANESE YEW (NEEDLES, SEEDS, BARK) | Rare | ✔ |
| LABURNUM (LEAVES AND SEEDS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| LARKSPUR (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| LILLIES (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | N/A |
| LIME | ✔ | ✔ |
| LILY OF THE VALLEY (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| LEOPARD LILY | N/A | ✔ |
| LOBELIA | ✔ | ✔ |
| LUPIN (ALL PARTS) | Rare | Rare |
| MALLOW | ✔ | ✔ |
| MARIGOLD (NEW LEAVES, STEMS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| MISTLETOE | ✔ | ✔ |
| MONKSHOOD/ ACONITE (ROOTS, FOLIAGE, SEEDS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| MORNING GLORY (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| NARCISSUS (ALL PARTS) (DAFFODIL) | ✔ | ✔ |
| OAK - ACORNS (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| OLEANDER (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| ONION (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| PERIWINKLE (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| PEONY (FOLIAGE, FLOWERS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| PHILODENDRON (LEAVES, STEMS, ROOTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| PINKS | ✔ | ✔ |
| POINSETTIA | ✔ | |
| PRIMROSE (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| PRIVET | ✔ | ✔ |
| PRUNUS ROTUNDIFOLIA LAUREL | ✔ | ✔ |
| POPPY (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| POTATO (SPROUTS, VINES, UNRIPE TUBERS) | N/A | ✔ |
| PRIVET | ✔ | ✔ |
| RANUNCULUS (BUTTERCUP) | ||
| RAGWORT (ALL PARTS ABOVE GROUND) | ||
| RHODODENDRON (LEAVES) | ✔ | |
| RHUBARB LEAVES | ✔ | ✔ |
| SNOWDROPS (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| SWEET PEA (ALL PARTS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| SWEET WILLIAM | ✔ | ✔ |
| TOBACCO PLANT | ✔ | ✔ |
| TOMATO PLANT (FOLIAGE, VINES, GREEN FRUIT) | ✔ | ✔ |
| TULIP (BULBS) | ✔ |
