There are so many plants we grow that are toxic to pets (and gardeners) to some degree or other. Many affect dogs and cats, some are known, others not.
If you are a pet owner it’s a case if knowing the risk, identifying it and then managing that risk in an appropriate way to you. We only became aware of risks to dogs after we got one, before that we weren’t aware of the risk from chocolate, onions, etc., we didn’t need to be. When we got the dog we removed a plant from our garden which produced berries that were potentially toxic to him.
I don’t think MD was necessarily wrong to say he hadn’t had a problem as that is his experience. I haven’t yet watched the episode yet so won’t comment further.
A dog is easier to manage risk wise as it is never a free roamer. As cats can and do cover large areas when out of the house the risk of coming into contact with toxic plants is very much higher. Some sources say it is any part of Lillian that is toxic, so chewing the leaves will have the same effect as licking the pollen from themselves.
I think Freddies Dad is correct to a degree that the number of cats affected in this way is small otherwise it would be bigger news and many more deaths would be reported. We have many friends with cats (we used to hav e one once) an despite living near gardens with lilies all have lived long lives and died of old age.
There are so many plants we grow that are toxic to pets (and gardeners) to some degree or other. Many affect dogs and cats, some are known, others not.
If you are a pet owner it’s a case if knowing the risk, identifying it and then managing that risk in an appropriate way to you. We only became aware of risks to dogs after we got one, before that we weren’t aware of the risk from chocolate, onions, etc., we didn’t need to be. When we got the dog we removed a plant from our garden which produced berries that were potentially toxic to him.
I don’t think MD was necessarily wrong to say he hadn’t had a problem as that is his experience. I haven’t yet watched the episode yet so won’t comment further.
A dog is easier to manage risk wise as it is never a free roamer. As cats can and do cover large areas when out of the house the risk of coming into contact with toxic plants is very much higher. Some sources say it is any part of Lillian that is toxic, so chewing the leaves will have the same effect as licking the pollen from themselves.
I think Freddies Dad is correct to a degree that the number of cats affected in this way is small otherwise it would be bigger news and many more deaths would be reported. We have many friends with cats (we used to hav e one once) an despite living near gardens with lilies all have lived long lives and died of old age.
It doesn't matter if the numbers aren't high. I know what its like to have a pet die. Its heartbreaking. Imagine if you're the unlucky one that gets a cat that dies from lillies because you didn't take it seriously enough. I would not wish that guilt on any pet owner.
RubyLeaf, read what I wrote. I said it is down to the pet owner to know the risks that are present and manage them. I know from personal experience the loosing of a much loved pet.
So to quote me in full like that and then throw the death angle is a bit much.
Maybe this link to the RSPCA may be helpful to read. It's a commonly recognised poison to cats and many vets have warning notices to inform visitors. It's not really anything about the Daily Mail, or any other newspaper. It's about being responsible gardeners who recognise what we do has a wider impact on other living things.
I only found out recently that some, I repeat SOME folk have the same allergic reaction to parsnip foliage as SOME folk get with euphorbia sap. Maybe parsnip seeds should carry a warning too?
There are so many plants we grow that are toxic to pets (and gardeners) to some degree or other. Many affect dogs and cats, some are known, others not.
That is really not the point here - nor is the fact that very many plants are toxic to people. If MD went on TV and said "I know that some people have a bad reaction to euphorbias (or parsnips) but I've been rubbing them in my eye for years and never had a problem', there'd be an outcry, because that would be irresponsible advice. In fact, he always warns people to wear gloves when pruning euphorbias. This really isn't any different - he started off saying 'lilies are poisonous to cats' and if he'd left it at that, or said 'if you have a cat then you need to do your own research and make a choice about it yourself' I really wouldn't have an issue. He didn't say that.
This isn't about whether plants are poisonous to your pet goldfish, this is about MD giving poor advice which could be actually dangerous to a member of someone's family. It's irresponsible to dismiss the risk so lightly on national TV, while purporting to be knowledgeable on the subject.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I have say how odd it is to find myself taking MD's side, but , maybe a non cat lover, I thought his advice seemed pretty balanced to me. " some have had a problem, but not me" is how I remember it.
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If you are a pet owner it’s a case if knowing the risk, identifying it and then managing that risk in an appropriate way to you. We only became aware of risks to dogs after we got one, before that we weren’t aware of the risk from chocolate, onions, etc., we didn’t need to be. When we got the dog we removed a plant from our garden which produced berries that were potentially toxic to him.
I don’t think MD was necessarily wrong to say he hadn’t had a problem as that is his experience. I haven’t yet watched the episode yet so won’t comment further.
A dog is easier to manage risk wise as it is never a free roamer. As cats can and do cover large areas when out of the house the risk of coming into contact with toxic plants is very much higher. Some sources say it is any part of Lillian that is toxic, so chewing the leaves will have the same effect as licking the pollen from themselves.
I think Freddies Dad is correct to a degree that the number of cats affected in this way is small otherwise it would be bigger news and many more deaths would be reported. We have many friends with cats (we used to hav e one once) an despite living near gardens with lilies all have lived long lives and died of old age.
So to quote me in full like that and then throw the death angle is a bit much.
https://news.rspca.org.uk/2017/04/11/rspca-urge-pet-owners-to-be-aware-of-the-danger-of-lilies-after-cat-deaths/
In the sticks near Peterborough
Maybe parsnip seeds should carry a warning too?
This isn't about whether plants are poisonous to your pet goldfish, this is about MD giving poor advice which could be actually dangerous to a member of someone's family. It's irresponsible to dismiss the risk so lightly on national TV, while purporting to be knowledgeable on the subject.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
" some have had a problem, but not me" is how I remember it.
In the sticks near Peterborough