Keep pets, livestock away from poisonous plants

it,” Renz said.

Pet owners may know that daffodil, tulip and hyacinth bulbs can be potentially poisonous to weed-grazing dogs, while Asiatic lilies can cause kidney failure in planteating cats.

But people new to small-scale or urban farming may not be aware that the roots and seeds of cabbage and broccoli can trigger digestive problems in pigs; foxglove, or digitalis, can produce irregular heart rates and rhythms in horses; rhubarb and tomato leaves can cause neurological damage to rabbits; iris rootstocks can result in breathing problems and scours in cattle; and as few as three medium to large oleander leaves can be lethal to llamas.

What can be done to limit plant poison risks?

“Try to know what’s out there — what’s toxic, and their symptoms,” Renz said.

Additional suggestions from a Penn State University fact sheet:

Keep animals healthy by maintaining good nutrition.

Eliminate or fence around any poisonous plants or trees in and adjacent to pastures. Mow pastures to reduce weeds. Do not throw garden or lawn clippings into pastures and do not plant trees, ornamental shrubs or plants near barns or pastures.

It can be risky to let dogs and cats wander around lawns or gardens after herbicides and pesticides have been applied.