Choose The Perfect Pet-Safe Fresh Flowers
Posted by Nancy's Floral on 24th Nov 2020
We’ve all seen it in television shows or movies: a gift of flowers or chocolates fall a little flat due to an allergy or other hijinx that mute an otherwise thoughtful gift. In real life, intense allergies to cut flowers are more rare, but there are certain types of flowers and plants that could be dangerous for your loved one’s pets.
If you’re hoping to provide the perfect gift, here are some things you’ll want to consider before having flowers delivered to a loved one with an espeically curious pet.
Pet-Safe or Not? How to Know
If you’re looking for the definitive list of poisonous plants for pets, you’ll want to check out the list at ASPCA.com (American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). If you’re not ready to go through pages upon pages of plants to start your search, we’ve gathered some helpful information for you below.
What is a Pet Poisonous Plant?
Like with human allergies, not all dangerous plants are created equal. While certain plants or flowers could cause serious harm to a pet, some may only lead to mild symptoms in certain animals or only in the presence of an allergy. So, just because something is consider unsafe, doesn’t necessarily mean that the plant is inherently “poisonous” as we typically understand the word.
What if a Pet Eats an Unsafe Plant?
It’s worth noting that the team at Nancy’s are not veterinary professionals and we cannot offer medical advice for you or your pet. That said, the ASPCA does offer a free 24-hour poison hotline to keep handy for any pet that may have ingested a poisonous substance, including plants. You can reach that hotline at 1-888-426-4435. Additionally, you will likely want to contact your vet’s office or locate an emergency veterinarian depending on the expected severity of the situation.
How Are Pets Effected?
Nearly all severe adverse effects that pets may experience from freshly cut flowers come from ingestion, so the concern does drop dramatically if your loved one’s pet is not curious about countertops. That said, pets can have airborn allergies just like humans and flowers could be potentially dangerous even if they remain on the countertop. It can be tough to gauge the situation without knowing the pet’s behaviors, so we’d recommend proceeding cautiously whenever you’re less sure.
Some Plants to Avoid
While this isn’t the all-inclusive list by any means, here are some cut flowers or bouquet fillers you may want to avoid if you’re sending flowers to a home with a curious pet:
- Amaryllis
- Calla Lily
- Carnation
- Chrysanthemum
- Coleus
- Crocus
- Daffodil
- Dahlia
- Forget-Me-Nots
- Freesia
- Gladiola
- Hyacinth
- Hydrangea
- Iris
- Lavender
- Lily of the Valley
- Monkshood
- Peace Lily
- Peony
- Ranunculus
- Tulip
If you have any concerns, be sure to contact your veterinarian or check out the ASPCA link above to investigate the effects of specific plants. Some examples that make it tough to make broad suggestions include many lilies posing significant risk for cats, but almost no risk at all for dogs.
Some Pet-Safe Options
Again, it’s tough to universally say that a plant is cleared for all pets, so be sure to discover what you can from your loved one or other resources. Here are some options that are generally considered pet friendly:
- African Violet
- Alyssum
- Bachelor’s Button
- Blue Daisy
- Camellia
- Celosia
- Easter Daisy
- Freesia
- Gerber Daisy
- Lisianthus
- Limonium
- Marigold
- Orchid
- Pansie
- Petunia
- Rose
- Snapdragon
- Statice
- Stock
- Sunflower
- Waxflower
- Zinnia
And many, many more! The good new is that there are many options that are considered at least mostly safe for pets and relatively few plants or flowers that are universally dangerous. As long as you’re checking to ensure that it won’t be a major issue for the type of pet your loved one cherishes, you should be in good shape.
Schedule Your Flower Delivery Today!
Looking for pet-safe flowers is an incredibly thoughtful step to take! If you’re looking at flowers that your loved one can enjoy without worrying about their pets, be sure to check in with the team at Nancy’s Floral in Portland for any extra tips we can provide to ensure you find the perfect arrangement for the occasion.
Plus, we proudly deliver floral arrangements for any occasion to the Portland area. Use the link below to set-up your next flower delivery and let our team take care of the rest!