Poisonous Plants Leanne Stevenson Miami County Agriculture Extension Agent.
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Transcript of Poisonous Plants Leanne Stevenson Miami County Agriculture Extension Agent.
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.