Jennifer Ruscilli

Oakleaf hydrangea.

Landscape Shrubs: A Threat to Our Pets?

BY JENNIFER RUSCILLI

Believe it or not, cooler weather hopefully is just around the corner, and that means better days to introduce shrubs and landscape plants. These lower temperatures provide a less stressful environment for planting.

Your choice of plants and shrubs might be for a border, privacy, or to improve areas of your yard that already may have been damaged by pets. Other plants selected might be favored because of blooms, leaves and scent. But, adding shrubs and plants may bring adverse effects on muchloved pets.

Pets like to chew, gnaw, dig, smell, nibble, taste and rub on plants. And,

Adverse effects vary from severe to mild, with even common plants causing great distress. Does this mean you can’t have a potentially toxic plant? On the contrary, just familiarize yourself with the plants mentioned below to recognize symptoms if a potential hazardous situation occurs, and keep these plants out of your pet’s reach.

Outdoor Shrubs

• Azalea bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, sap/juice, seeds, stems: Toxic classes 2 and 3. • Oakleaf hydrangea bark, flowers, leaves: Toxic class 2. • Boxwood leaves: Toxic class 2. • American holly fruits: Toxic class 2. • Yew needles, bark, fruit, cones: Toxic classes 2 and 3. • English ivy (all parts): Toxic class 2.

This article isn’t intended to be a replacement for medical advice; its purpose is to bring more awareness about the plants you are considering the next time you visit your favorite nursery or plant store. Most important, if you ever suspect your pet isn’t acting normal, or their behavior is odd, contact your veterinary doctor immediately. (It’s a good idea to add their phone number to your favorites.)

Note: Poison ivy is nontoxic to cats and dogs. However, the oils on their coats can be transmitted to humans. Wear gloves when bathing your pets, and wash all towels used with your pets.

In future articles, we will look at other types of plants — holiday and ornamental — along with lawn practices that may be hazardous to your pets.

Dig Deeper

• https://extension.uga.edu/county-offices/ cherokee/contact-us.html • https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/find_a_plant • www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poisoncontrol/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants

of course, they love to lay or hide in places where other plants have naturalized (spread into nonnative environments). Pets also can encounter potentially threatening shrubs and plants while on a daily stroll. It is essential that we learn to recognize plants that can cause skin irritation or be toxic if ingested.

Toxicity depends on the amount of a plant that has been eaten. According to the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, the Department of Urban Plant Pathology and Center for Urban Agriculture, plant toxicities are categorized in four classes:

1. Major toxicity. May result in serious illness or death if ingested. 2. Minor toxicity. May result in vomiting or diarrhea if ingested. 3. Oxalates. Contains juice or sap with oxalate crystals that can irritate the skin, mouth and/or throat, and cause swelling, difficulty breathing, pain and/or an upset stomach. 4. Dermatitis. Contact with thorns or sap may result in a skin rash.

Jennifer Ruscilli is a Cherokee County Master Gardener who loves gardening, wildlife and pets. She also has previous experience as a veterinary associate.