Valentine's Day Flowers to Keep Away From Pets at All Costs

Flower bouquets are a very popular Valentine's Day gift choice, especially amongst men who forget the holiday and find themselves at the grocery store checkout line grabbing the first bunch they see at the last minute.

As much as most of us love receiving a fresh bouquet of beautiful blooms, there are some flowers that cat and dog owners should know can be downright toxic to their fur babies. Better check out this list before you head to the florist!

Lilies: 

Lilies, including Asiatic lilies and daylilies, can be toxic to both dogs and cats, but the effects of this flower are much more dangerous for cats. Oriental lilies should be avoided by pet parents because all parts of the plant are toxic and small amounts can cause severe injury to the kidneys. Drinking the water containing a lily or grooming pollen off their fur may cause problems as well.

Tulips: 

Another popular bouquet choice are tulips, and these beautiful spring and leaves can be poisonous to cats if ingested.Tulips are also part of the lily family. Most dogs will experience drooling and  stomach problems if they eat tulips, so these flowers aren't good for them either.

Related: Cats Have a Perfect Little Valentine's Day Date That's So Irresistible

Hyacinths: 

Although the entire plant is poisonous, it is the bulbs that hold the highest concentration of the toxic calcium oxalate crystals. These crystals are actually shaped like needles that pierce the soft skin of the mouth and intestines when consumed by your dog.  It's best to keep your pets away from this one too.

Chrysanthemums:

This flower is only mildly toxic to cats and dogs, but it can still cause some pretty unpleasant side effects including vomiting, diarrhea, hyper-salivation, incoordination, and dermatitis in your pets.

Daffodils:

Purina explains that daffodils are poisonous to dogs and you should keep them away from your pet. These plants contain a toxic component called lycorine which can cause digestive upset when ingested. There are other substances in a daffodil flower that might also cause irritation to the skin and to the mouth and throat if ingested.

The good news is, roses, one of the most popular choices for Valentine's Day, are nontoxic to both dogs and cats. It's never a good idea to let your pet snack on your vase full of roses, because sometimes roses can be treated with pesticides that can harm your pet, and they could also get hurt by a thorn. Dr. Maureen K. Murithi explains  "They may experience a stomach upset accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea though not severe if they munch on the leaves, stem, or petals, which may warrant a visit to the veterinarian," she said. So a rose that isn't treated with pesticides is probably fine if youyr pet has a small nibble.

So yes, your pet can smell the roses, they just can't eat the roses.

As with anything non-food your pet consumes, it's always a good idea to check with your veterinarian if you think your dog or cat may have eaten some of your flowers, and even better, keep your bouquets in areas where your cat and dog can't reach them.

We all love our pets. Let's keep them safe this Valentine's day!

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