The garden and our beloved four-legged friends: Which plants are poisonous to cats and dogs?

Approximately 20 million four-legged friends, including 7.5 million cats and 12 million dogs, live in German households. In the warmer seasons, these animals enjoy being outside and enjoying the garden. And when everything is green, blooming, and fragrant, it's naturally extremely interesting for dogs and cats, encouraging them to nibble. But be careful—there are plenty of garden plants that are poisonous to our furry friends.

Lisa Wittmann of Germany's largest animal rights organization, PETA, warns: "Out of love for our animal companions, it's advisable to do without one or two plants in the garden and home." But which plants are dangerous for dogs and/or cats? There's a simple answer to this question, and it's: more than you'd think. Among them are many plants that pose no threat to humans at all. Especially in the warmer seasons, cats and dogs are seduced by plant scents that are toxic to them.

Forbidden for Bello, Rex and Waldi

Time and again, we see dogs eating grass – and we ask ourselves: Is that okay? And why do they do it? First of all: Yes, grass isn't harmful, quite the opposite. Fresh grass is tasty, juicy, and even rich in nutrients for our "best friends" in spring and summer. It even calms dogs, is good for their stomachs, and replenishes their water reserves. In the world of plants, the dangers for dogs lurk elsewhere. For example, in crocuses, ivy, rubber plants, garlic, and, despite their name, fool's parsley. It's also long been known that dogs are intolerant to onions, walnuts, broad beans, grapes, raisins, almonds, and cocoa. The paws, feet, and tongues of dogs and cats have no place on rhododendrons, lilies, orchids, lilies of the valley, daffodils, angel trumpets, and hyacinths, nor on ficus, Swiss cheese, sweet pea, cyclamen, and arborvitae. Gladioli and poinsettias are also highly toxic to animals.

Of course, there are also plenty of ornamental plants that pose a danger to dogs. Among them, for example, is the Adonis flower, which is contained in our " Butterfly Meadow " and "Blooming Cornfield" seed bombs . The "Bee Feast" seed bomb contains foxglove, which is also toxic to dogs (and humans too, by the way). The "Wildflowers" and "Blooming Cornfield" mixes contain seeds of perennial flax, which are highly toxic to dogs. Toxic lupin seeds are found in the "Butterfly Meadow ," "Bee Feast ," " Wild Meadow ," and "Wildflowers" seed bombs .

Poppy and Co.: better not

It is estimated that there are up to 120 poppy varieties worldwide. Three of them are found in our seed mixes "Butterfly Meadow" (California poppy, corn poppy), "Blooming Cornfield" (corn poppy), " Bee Feast " (California poppy, corn poppy), " Wild Meadow ," and "Wildflowers" (each corn poppy). Larkspur, which is highly toxic to dogs, is included in the mixes " Butterfly Meadow ," " Blooming Cornfield ," " Bee Feast ," " Wild Meadow ," and " Wildflowers ."

Of course, the plants that are dangerous to dogs are only a few of the many seeds in seed bombs . To avoid putting your dog at risk, you shouldn't take any risks and stick to sunflower , daisy , Italian garden, or wild herb varieties. But what about cats?

For cats: Keep paws away from these plants

Some plants are also poisonous to our furry friends. Some are harmful to dogs, while others are only dangerous to cats. Just as they are for dogs, Adonis adonis, foxglove, flax, lupins, poppies, and delphiniums are also toxic to cats. Added to this is the wallflower, which is contained in our Butterfly Meadow seed bombs (Wallflower and Siberian Wallflower) and Wildflowers. And just as for dogs, ivy, rubber plants, angel's trumpet, Swiss cheese, ficus, crocus, oleander, daffodil, and other ornamental plants are also dangerous for cats.

So, if you have a garden with a dog or cat, you'd better avoid the seed bombs listed above. In addition to the commonly found ornamental plants on balconies, patios, in the house, and in the garden mentioned above, there are plenty of other green plants that are indigestible for our four-legged pets. Some plants are even highly poisonous. These include daphne, spurge, holly, hemlock, lily of the valley, arborvitae, autumn crocus, laburnum, yew, Christmas rose, boxwood, avocado, and monkshood, which is the most poisonous plant in Europe and can even be fatal to humans.

Overview: These plants are poisonous to dogs and cats

• Adonis adonis (dogs, cats)
• Cyclamen (dogs)
• Enduring Lein (dogs, cats)
• Avocado (dogs, cats)
• Boxwood (dogs, cats)
• Christmas rose (dogs, cats)
• Ivy (dogs, cats)
• Yew (dogs, cats)
• Monkshood (dogs, cats)
• Angel trumpets (dogs, cats)
• Swiss cheese plant (dogs, cats)
• Ficus (dogs, cats)
• Gladiolus (dogs)
• Wallflower (cats)
• Laburnum (dogs, cats)
• Rubber tree (dogs, cats)
• Autumn crocus (dogs, cats)
• Sweetheart (dogs)
• Fool's parsley (dogs)
• Hyacinths (dogs)
• Cocoa (dogs, cats)
• Garlic (dogs)
• Crocus (dogs, cats)
• Tree of Life (dogs, cats)
• Lilies (Dogs)
• Lupins (dogs, cats)
• Lily of the Valley (dogs)
• Almonds (dogs)
• Poppy (dogs, cats)
• Oleander (dogs, cats)
• Orchids (Dogs)
• Daffodils (dogs, cats)
• Lily of the Valley (dogs, cats)
• Rhododendron (dogs)
• Larkspur (dogs, cats)
• Raisins (dogs)
• Red foxglove (dogs, cats)
• Broad beans (dogs)
• Hemlock (dogs, cats)
• Daphne (dogs, cats)
• Holly (dogs, cats)
• Grapes (dogs)
• Walnuts (dogs)
• Poinsettias (Dogs)
• Milkweed (dogs, cats)
• Onions (dogs)

Note: This list is by no means exhaustive. We've tried to summarize the information available to us as best as possible, but if in doubt, please consult a veterinarian!

Poisoning in cats or dogs: what to do?

Of course, you can't keep an eye on your pet all the time. If your cat is out and about or your dog is with you on a walk in the woods, you won't be able to keep a constant check on their eating habits. This means you should be prepared in case your dog or cat gets poisoned while eating plants. It's important to know what to do if that happens. So, what should you do if your four-legged friend has eaten poisonous plants?

The usual symptoms of poisonous plant poisoning are diarrhea, excessive salivation, and vomiting. In some cases, the animals are completely dazed and stunned; in others, their pupils dilate or constrict dramatically. But to put it bluntly: There's not much you can do yourself. At the very least, ensure the animal doesn't eat any more of the poisonous plant and try to rinse its mouth with water. Induce vomiting in the cat or dog if the poison was ingested less than half an hour ago, using concentrated saline water at room temperature. Avoid giving the animal milk at all costs, as it does more harm than good: Milk accelerates the absorption and distribution of plant toxins in the animal's body.

Be sure to have the phone numbers of your veterinarian or the nearest animal hospital handy. If in doubt, grab your four-legged patient and drive to the nearest veterinary clinic without hesitation.