KY Pet Lovers, Avoid Buying Your Valentine These Toxic Flowers

Love is in the air and florists all over the world have been preparing for their biggest day of the year. According to the British Florist Association, "It is estimated that 250 million stems of flowers are sold at Valentine's globally." Mostly roses and tulips grown abroad in Kenya, Colombia, and the Netherlands.

If your Valentine is a pet owner, it's important to remember that certain flowers and plants are toxic to animals. One of our cats loves to find growing greenery to chew on. He will sniff out any floral arrangement my sweet husband brings home in an attempt to have a snack.

Get our free mobile app

Signs Your Pet Has Eaten Something Poisonous

It is not a pretty sight if your fur baby has accidentally eaten something they shouldn't. These are some of the signs:

vomiting
diarrhea
becomes lethargic
difficulty breathing
drooling

If you notice a change in behavior, it's a good idea to go ahead and call your vet or poison control while monitoring them. This kind of thing can take a turn really quickly, so be vigilant and do your best to avoid contact with the toxin in the first place.

What to Do If Your Pet Ingests Something Poisonous

You can find the full list of what to avoid on the ASPCA website here. They also advise the following:

"If you believe that your animal is ill or may have ingested a poisonous substance, or if you have any further questions regarding the information contained in this database, contact either your local veterinarian or the APCC 24-hour emergency poison hotline at 1-888-426-4435."

These Popular Valentine Flowers Are Toxic to Animals

Commonly used in bouquets, these are the beautiful blooms to avoid or keep where animals cannot reach.

Amaryllis
Azalea
Buttercup (ranunculus)
Chrysanthemum
Daffodil
Gladiolus
Hydrangea
Iris
Oleander
Peony

According to VCA Animal Hospital,

"Lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species), including easter lilies, tiger lilies, daylilies, Asiatic lilies and Japanese show lilies are extremely toxic to cats. It only takes a small nibble of a leaf, petals or pollen, or a sip of vase water to cause kidney failure and death."

Pet Safe Flowers

Luckily, a lot of these gorgeous options are common in Valentine's Day bundles. So stick to this list and you'll be in the clear!

Roses
Asters
Freesia
Gerber daisy
Limonium
Lisianthus
Madagascar jasmine
Orchid
Snapdragon
Stock
Sunflower
Waxflower
Zinnia

Have a lovely Valentine's Day with your boo and your furbabies!

LOOK: Here Are 30 Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs

To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.

Gallery Credit: Rachel Cavanaugh