Vets issue lily warning to pet owners
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Leading vet charity PDSA has issued a warning to pet owners after a cat from Glasgow was saved by their vets after eating lilies, which are highly toxic to felines. According to the charity, lilies are among a number of common plants which can pose a severe threat to pet health.
One-year-old cat Oscar’s ordeal began when owner Chloe Morrison received a bouquet of flowers from her partner. She said: “I got up the next day and Oscar’s face was bright yellow, I had no idea what it was until I went into the kitchen and found the flowers strewn around, all chewed.
“I’d read somewhere that lilies could cause problems if eaten, so I rang PDSA to check. I was shocked when they told me how dangerous they were. The vets advised me to bring Oscar straight in.”
PDSA vets immediately gave Oscar intravenous fluids to help flush out the toxins. PDSA Vet Nurse, Lizzi Mackie, explained: “Sadly there is no cure for lily poisoning. Ingesting just a small amount can be fatal. Tests showed Oscar had kidney damage already. We were doing everything we could, but Oscar’s life hung in the balance.”
 Oscar received round-the-clock care from the vets and nurses. Thankfully, Oscar’s kidney function slowly improved and several days later he was allowed home.
Chloe said: “I was so worried we would lose him. You don’t realise how much a part of the family they are until something like this happens. We would have been devastated, but thanks to PDSA, we’ve got our boisterous boy back home.”
Vet nurse Lizzi continued: “Oscar was very lucky, and I’m sure his successful recovery was partly due to the speed his owner got him to PDSA. It could easily have been a very different story. Lilies are particularly dangerous to cats; even getting a small amount of pollen on their coats, which they then ingest when grooming, can prove fatal.
“My advice to anyone who thinks their pet may have eaten something they shouldn’t is to call your vet straight away – it may mean the difference between life and death.”
Chloe is now very cautious about what she brings into the house, saying: “It’s made me much more aware of the potential scrapes cats can get themselves into. Even though I appreciated the flowers, I’ve asked my partner not to buy them for me in future – he’s quite happy about that!”
Lilies aren’t the only flower that can be toxic to pets, here are some other ‘horticultural horrors’ to look out for:
- Daffodils - All parts of the daffodil, but especially the bulb, are potentially harmful to pets, and cases of poisoning are especially common during spring when the flowers are in bloom. Even drinking the water from a vase of daffodils can made a pet ill.
- Laburnum – All parts of this tree are poisonous, although the seeds are more commonly eaten. Just chewing laburnum bark or twigs can affect a dog.
- Allium species – These include leeks, spring onions, wild garlic and some are grown as ornamental flowers.
- Bluebells - All parts of these plants are poisonous and can affect a dog’s heart or intestines.
- Oak – The buds have a high concentration of a poison called ‘tannic acid’ but not all dogs react to it.
- Rhododendrons – Commonly seen in parks, all parts of this plant are toxic.
Signs of poisoning can include vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, drowsiness, disorientation, lack of appetite, lack of energy and a painful tummy. In severe cases it may causes fits and could be fatal.
PDSA is the UK’s leading veterinary charity and strives to improve all pets’ lives through education, preventive care and emergency treatment. It treats 470,000 pets annually across its 51 Pet Hospitals. Glasgow Tollcross PDSA can see as many as 200 pets a day and provides more than 75,000 treatments to pets in need every year.
To support PDSA’s vital work text PAWS to 70111 to donate £3* or visit www.pdsa.org.uk
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