Poisonous Plants

Leanne StevensonMiami County Agriculture

Extension Agent

Poison

Any substance which, when taken into the system, acts injuriously, in a manner neither thermal nor mechanical, tending to cause death or serious detriment to health.

In General

• More than 700 plants toxic to animals

• Economic losses

• #1 reason for calls to poison control centers

• Chemicals in plants are natural defense

• Best Treatment – prevention

Can you tell by looking at a plant if it is poisonous?

NO

Suspect Plant Families

• Philodendron family (Araceae)

• Cactus family (Cactaceae)

• Tomato family (Solanaceae)

• Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae)

Levels of Poisoning

• Chronic - Over a period of time. Can refer to prolonged or repeated exposure to toxins or to the progression of clinical signs.

• Acute - A rapid, severe onset of signs.

Classes of Poisons

• Poisons acting on the brain

• Poisons acting on the spinal cord

• Poisons acting on the heart

• Vegetable irritants

Houseplants

Amaryllis

• Houseplant• Bulbs and seeds

are toxic• Humans• Gastrointestinal

problems vomiting, diarrhea

Caladiums & Dieffenbachia

• Houseplant• All parts• Humans and pets• Ingestion causes

intense burning, swelling and irritation of the mouth, lips and throat

Easter Lily

• Houseplant or ornamental

• All parts • Humans, cats,

livestock• Dizziness, stomach

pain, collapse, fatal to livestock

Oleander

• Ornamental shrub• Extremely toxic• Livestock, pets

and humans• Gastroenteritis,

diarrhea, abdominal pain, sweating and weakness

Landscaping

Plants

Azalea, Rhododendron

• Shrub• Entire plant• Livestock, pets and

humans• Nausea, vomiting,

weakness, dizziness, breathing difficulty, coma

Castor bean

• Ornamental herb• Various parts of the

plant – particularly in the seed

• One of the three most toxic plants

• All livestock, pets and humans

• 6 seeds can kill a horse• 1-2 seeds can kill a child

Delphiniums and Larkspurs

• Perennial• Young leaves and

seeds• Pets, humans,

cattle, and can effect horses

• Nervous symptoms, nausea, depression and even death

Foxglove

• Biennial plant• All parts – most toxic

just before the seeds ripen

• Cats, cattle, dogs, goats, horses, humans

• Dizziness, vomiting, irregular heart beat, and delirium or hallucinations. Can be fatal at any time.

Lantana

• Annual flower, warm climates spreading shrub

• All parts are quite toxic

• Cattle, sheep, horses and humans

• Gastric, vomiting, diarrhea, circulatory collapse

Lily of the Valley

• Perennial flower• All parts are extremely

toxic• Humans, cats, dogs,

goats• Nausea, vomiting,

diarrhea, irregular heartbeat and pulse, mental confusion – can lead to coma and death

Red Maple

• Ornamental tree• Leaves, especially

when fallen, damaged, or wilted

• Horses only• Breathing

difficulties, jaundice, dark brown urine, death

Rhubarb

• Garden plant• Low, unless animals

are fed the leaves intentionally

• Cattle, swine, sheep and goats

• Staggering, trembling, breathing difficulties, weakness, diarrhea, increased drinking and urinating, death

Black Walnut

• Natural and ornamental tree

• Moderately toxic, depending upon length of exposure

• Horses, dogs, possibly other animals

• Laminitis, breathing problems, gastroenteritis

Yew

• Ornamental Shrub• All parts extremely

toxic, death is likely • All animals-livestock,

pets, humans and birds

• Sudden death is the typical sign. Occasionally: breathing problems, trembling, weakness, heart problems, stomach upset.

Plants in Nature

Black Locust

• Shrub or tree• Roots, bark,

sprouts, seed pods and/or trimmings

• Horses, cattle, sheep, poultry and humans

• Weakness, posterior paralysis, depression and loss of appetite

Common Cocklebur

• Annual herb• Toxin concentrated

in the seeds and seedlings

• Vomiting and gastrointestinal irritation with occasional diarrhea

• Swine mostly – chickens and other livestock

Hemp Dogbane

• Native perennial• All parts- particularly

tender shoots. Can be in hay

• Horses, cattle, humans, sheep, cats, dogs, goats

• Heart stimulant, increased temperature and pulse, pupils dilated. Can result in death.

Horsenettle

• Perennial, thorny herb• Berries most toxic,

leaves to a lesser degree

• Mostly cattle, humans, rodents

• Sometimes sheep, horses, goats

• Irritation of the mouth, gastrointestinal lesions, unthriftiness, jaundiced mucous membranes, abdominal dropsy and constipation

Jimsonweed

• Annual• All parts, green or

dried are poisonous – especially seeds

• Cattle, swine:primary Horses, poultry, goats, dogs and humans: possible

• Cattle – .5 to 1#• Weak, rapid pulse and

heartbeat

Milkweed

• Perennial herbs• All parts are toxic fresh

and dried• Cattle, sheep, goats,

horses and poultry• 2% of body weight• Staggering,

depression, weakness, labored respiration and dilated pupils

• Eventual coma and death

Poison Hemlock

• Biennial Herb• All parts are toxic, but

the seeds are the worst

• Livestock, poultry and humans

• Gastrointestinal irritation, nervousness, trembling, staggering, coldness of the extremities, slow heartbeat and eventually coma and death

Pokeweed

• Perennial herb• Young leaves often used

as cooked green• Older leaves quite

poisonous• Root most poisonous –

other parts contain smaller amounts of toxins

• Cattle, horses, swine and man

• Severe gastroenteritis w/ cramping, diarrhea and convulsions

• Can be fatal• Treat with gastrointestinal

protectives and sedatives

Myths & Potentially Poisonous Plants

Poinsettia

• No part of these holiday beauties is toxic to either people or pets

• Tastes extremely bitter and could cause stomach upset

• The milky sap can trigger allergic reactions and skin irritations.

Nitrate Toxicity

What to do…

• In case of Emergency – identify the plant, determine how much was eaten, and contact the poison control center.

• Watch for adverse symptoms

• Take the plant with you to the hospital or veterinarian.

Poison Control Centers

• For humans:Refer to handout

• For pets: ASPCA National Animal Poison Center

ASPCA-NAPCC

800-548-2423

Additional Resources

www.vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/cover1.htm

http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/poison/links.htm

http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/ento/PLANT.HTM

www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/index.html

http://texnat.tamu.edu/cmplants/toxic/index.htm

• Know whether you have plants in your house, yard or property that are toxic.

• Know the signs of toxicity.• Use risk management techniques to decide

what to do with your toxic plants.• Have poison control numbers handy.