Are your plants hurting your pets? Here’s how to keep your Georgia yard safe

Even as the seasons change, pet owners have to be careful about what their animals ingest because there are several Georgia plants that can make them extremely sick.

There are a handful of plants that can affect the pets in your home, particularly cats and dogs, and they are classified into four categories, according to the University of Georgia :

• Highly Toxic: These plants can cause severe illness or death even in small amounts.

• Moderately Toxic: These plants can cause significant discomfort and illness, but are rarely fatal.

• Mildly Toxic: These plants may cause minor irritation or discomfort.

• Non-Toxic: These plants are generally safe for humans and animals.

If your pet eats a poisonous plant you will notice, first and foremost, gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Your pet may be drooling excessively, they’re lethargic with a loss of appetite and difficulty breathing.

Take these steps to keep your pet safe .

• Contact a veterinarian immediately

• Identify and photograph the plant if possible.

• Contact the Georgia Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222

Flowering Plants

Highly Toxic

• Water Hemlock

• Poison Hemlock

• Castor Bean

Moderately Toxic

• Azalea/Rhododendron

• Foxglove

• Oleander

Mildly Toxic

• Chrysanthemums (Mums)

• Tulips.

• Iris

• Yarrow

• Bleeding Hearts

• Wisteria

• Clematis

Trees and Shrubs

Highly Toxic

• Black Cherry

• Yew

• Red buckeye/Horse Chestnut

• Chinaberry

• Privet

Moderately Toxic

• American Ivy/Virginia Creeper

• Holly

• Birch Tree

• Bird of Paradise

• Chinese Lantern

• Elder

• Mistletoe

• Elephant ear

Mildly Toxic

• Boxwood

• Hydrangea

Wild plants

Highly Toxic

• Jimsonweed

• Milkweed

Moderately Toxic

• Nightshades and Horse Nettle

• Pokeweed/PokeBerry

• Bracken Fern

• Cherry Laurel

• Mountain Laurel

• Yellow Jessamine

• Perilla Mint

This is not, by any means, an exhaustive list, and it’s important to know what plants you have in your yard to keep your pets (and humans) safe.