Pet Owners: It Only Takes One Lick of an Easter Lily To Kill Your Cat
Spring is here and that means pastel and fresh-grown decor is everywhere. Stockings and Valentines have been exchanged for fresh flowers and Easter baskets.
One of the most popular and traditional springtime decorations is none other than the Easter lily. According to Southern Living, this particular flower is full of symbolism and meaning.
The white flowering plant has been called a symbol of purity. Even its trumpet shape is said to represent the trumpet sounding the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection.
But despite the Easter lily’s beautiful appearance and deep-rooted correlation to the Christian faith, this plant can be deadly for pets of the feline persuasion.
Cat owners beware — the Easter lily may add beauty to your centerpiece or window sill, but the risk is far greater than any value these plants would bring to your home.
A recent story reported by Express featured a poor kitten named Luna who ingested lily pollen. She survived thanks to her owner’s awareness of the emergency treatment her cat needed.
Luna’s story is a warning to others. It doesn’t take much for your furry friend to be poisoned by Easter decor. Which is why it’s important to know the dangers and precautions you should take if you share your home with a cat.
Wide Open Pets notes just a lick can be fatal and cause acute kidney failure. The source suggests refraining from having lilies around cats at all. In other words, skip this form of decor.
If you do have lilies in your home and are afraid your cat has gotten too close, there are signs and symptoms to look out for.
Pet Health Network lists vomiting, lack of appetite and lethargy along with eventual more frequent urination and thirst.
It is important to note that the toxins found in Easter lily pollen do not affect dogs the same way. According to San Francisco Gate, if a dog ingests the toxins they will not have the same immediate and fatal reaction as a cat.
This doesn’t mean your pooch is completely in the clear, however. Too much of a not-so-bad thing could take a turn for the worse, even for our canine friends, though again the result isn’t fatal.
If a dog eats too many Easter lilies it might experience vomiting and diarrhea, in which case it’s a good idea to take Fido to the vet for a checkup.
Should your dog or cat eat a plant or flower that contains known toxins, it’s important to be prepared and know what actions to take.
Remove your pet from the toxin and call an emergency vet or clinic immediately. The sooner you can get them to a medical professional for treatment, the better.
Fluids and medications will be administered while your pet is monitored closely and given nutrition through an IV.
A list of poisonous plants for both cats and dogs has been provided by ASPCA. They also have a 24-hour Animal Poison Control Center emergency poison hotline you can reach at 1-888-426-4435.
It’s a good idea to become familiar with which plants are safe — and which ones aren’t — to ensure the safety of the pets living in your home.
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