If you share your life with a cat or a dog, you need to be careful about the plants you choose for your home or garden. Sadly, many flowering favourites can be dangerous for pets.

Here are five plants all animal lovers should avoid. If you notice any symptoms, consult your veterinarian right away.

Amaryllis

One of the prettiest houseplants around, amaryllis draws the eye thanks to its large, colourful blooms.

But for our furry friends, the amaryllis is no gift – it contains lycorine, a harmful substance that could irritate the gastric mucosa, causing vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and sometimes convulsions.

Owners should take particular care that their pets do not ingest amaryllis bulbs, as they are more toxic than the plant’s leaves and flowers.

Oleander

Few shrubs are as reminiscent of Provence and the south of France as the oleander. Gardeners love it for its flowers, which can be white, pink, red, yellow, orange, purple, or even two-tone.

However, this shrub contains substances that are extremely toxic to dogs and cats – namely cardiac glycosides, which can cause death by cardiac arrest even if the animal ingests only a few oleander leaves.

Fresh oleander leaves have a bitter taste that repels pets, but they are much more appetising when dry. If ingested, they can cause nausea and vomiting. Abdominal pain and diarrhoea can also occur, as can hypersalivation.

Lilies

Lilies are known for their large flowers, which can be white, red, mauve, yellow, or even two-tone. Most varieties are fragrant, making them perfect for bouquets and floral arrangements.

Cats are often attracted by the scent of a lily, but their owners must be careful not to let them get too close: it contains chemicals that can cause serious kidney damage.

Ingestion of very small quantities of any part of the lily – petals, leaves, pollen, or even the water in the vase – can lead to acute kidney failure in cats.

Symptoms of intoxication include vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, loss of appetite, lethargy, and excessive salivation. The affected animal must be treated as quickly as possible to prevent symptoms from worsening, which could lead to death.

Dogs are less sensitive to the chemical substances contained in lilies, but it’s still advisable to make sure they don’t play with the plant’s bulbs.

Rhododendron

The rhododendron is distinguished by its abundant flowers of different shapes, sizes and colours. But pet owners should be aware that this seemingly harmless plant contains grayanotoxins – chemical substances that affect nerve and muscle cells.

Ingestion of these toxins can lead to a multitude of symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, and excessive salivation. In the most worrying cases, the animal may have cardiac and respiratory problems, even convulsions.

Severity of symptoms may vary according to the amount ingested and the animal’s sensitivity. Rapid veterinary intervention is often necessary to prevent serious complications.

Tulips

Tulips come in a multitude of varieties and colours to suit all tastes. Despite its harmless appearance, this cup-shaped flower is nonetheless harmful to dogs and cats.

This is due to tulipalins A and B, toxic compounds that are mainly found in tulip bulbs. If ingested, pets will experience digestive problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. They may also experience tremors and mood disorders.

Fortunately, tulip-bulb ingestion is usually not lethal to animals. They should, however, be taken promptly to the vet for appropriate treatment.