Bouquet of roses (Getty Images)
GHENT, W.Va. (WVNS) — Flowers may be a good gift for your loved one, but they're not necessarily the best gift for your four-legged friend.
Flowers are a gift commonly associated with Valentine's Day, and a variety of flowers are given out on Valentine's Day.
But which flowers are toxic to pets, and which ones are safe to use instead?
Lilies are highly toxic flowers for pets, but they are especially dangerous for cats as they can cause kidney failure. The entire plant is toxic from the petals, pollen, leaves, stems, and even the water in the vase. If your cat eats even a small part of the plant, such as by licking pollen from its paws, nibbling flower petals or leaves, or drinking water, it can cause fatal kidney failure within three days. Lilies are toxic to both dogs and cats, but symptoms can be more severe in cats.
Lilies aren't the only flowers that are poisonous to pets, but they're probably one of the most potent. Other poisonous flowers include amaryllis, azaleas, buttercups, chrysanthemums, daffodils, gladioli, hydrangeas, irises, oleanders, and peonies. Many of these flower types can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, heart problems, and lethargy.
Nevertheless, there are many non-toxic flower options that are safer for pets instead.
Pet-friendly flowers that can be used instead include roses, orchids, sunflowers, and freesias. These flowers can cause stomach upset if eaten, but they are not poisonous like the previously mentioned flowers.
Roses are a common holiday flower and are non-toxic, but their thorns can cause problems for pets. Be careful with rose vases so your pet doesn't try to chew on the rose stems or cut them with thorns.
A complete list of poisonous and non-toxic flowers can be found on the ASPCA website.