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Original poster

Urgent advice please - amaryllis - how toxic is it?

55 replies

NameChange30 · 26/03/2016 20:58

We have an amaryllis plant and a friend just told me they are toxic to cats - I had no idea Sad (I did know that lillies are toxic, just not amaryllis.)

We noticed some "juice" around the plant so we guess our cat has been chewing it.

I called the vet's 24 hour number for advice and they told us to bring the cat in straight away.

DH says the cat is fine and I'm being ridiculous.

What should I do?!!!

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Original poster
NameChange30 · 26/03/2016 22:43

According to this article, amaryllis is nowhere near as bad as lillies
www.ehow.com/facts_5772530_amaryllis-toxic-cats_.html

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Danglyweed · 26/03/2016 22:47

Got our house insurance with more than emma so will def call them, just seemed a minefield! My dh always bought flowers from his best mates mrs friend who bloody has a child and cat and always includes lilies. Our neighbours stepmum does much nicer flowers pet friendly, sent him the link Smile

cozietoesie · 26/03/2016 23:10

The trouble is that people so often just 'turn up with flowers'. You can't assume you're getting them and there are only so many loaded tales of cats and lilies that you can tell in general discussion throughout the year. (And those seem to go straight out of people's heads anyway when it comes to buying actual flowers.)

And it's frequently visiting children that are deputed to give you the flowers. Sad

Original poster
NameChange30 · 26/03/2016 23:41

I forgot to say - the vet called an hour ago to say that her blood tests didn't show any signs of kidney failure. Good news but more fuel for DH to say we didn't need to take her in. Angry

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Original poster
NameChange30 · 26/03/2016 23:46

Just found this which says the toxicity of amaryllis is "mild to moderate"
www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/amaryllis/

Tbh it does seem like they're not as dangerous as lilies and if that's true I think DH does have a point. Too late now of course. But I wonder why the vet is assuming lily intoxication when it's clearly not the same.

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cozietoesie · 27/03/2016 00:26

You just didn't know how much, if any, she'd ingested, AnotherEmma. The vet said to take her in so you did. It was the right thing to do.

Bet you watch what comes into the house from now on though?Smile

cozietoesie · 27/03/2016 00:30

PS - amaryllis are toxic as well as far as I know. Maybe not quite as bad as lilies but that's only a 'maybe'. The critical thing is that you didn't know so you took vet's advice.

Original poster
NameChange30 · 27/03/2016 00:31

We knew she hadn't eaten much (if any) because the flowers were intact - they had just been chewed. What I didn't know was how toxic it was - obviously for lilies even a tiny amount is toxic. But for a "mild/moderate" level of toxicity I do think that chewing a flower is not the end of the world!

Anyway I would prefer to be safe than sorry, so I'm still glad I took her in. I'm just annoyed at all the grief I've got (and will continue to get) from DH about it.

I would like to know what is ACTUALLY dangerous because tonight I found lots of long lists of toxic plants, but lilies were the only plants listed as being extremely poisonous, as far as I could find.

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Original poster
NameChange30 · 27/03/2016 00:33

Anyway thanks cozie. You're right. I'm just feeling grumpy and should probably go to bed! Need to be awake at 9am to answer the call from the vet!

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cozietoesie · 27/03/2016 00:35

You didn't know how much sap she'd ingested though, did you? And the vet only kept her in due to her temperature.

You did the right thing. I'll not comment on DH's attitude even though I may feel like it.

cozietoesie · 27/03/2016 00:39

Feeling grumpy is to be expected, I reckon. Apart from anything else, you have the after-effects of all that adrenalin leaving your system which can affect people quite significantly. Add a dose of DH grumping to that mix...............

Sleep well, anyway. Smile

Original poster
NameChange30 · 27/03/2016 00:40

Thanks Smile

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Original poster
NameChange30 · 27/03/2016 10:59

Morning! Update: just spoke to a nurse at the vets and she said our cat has been fine. They have taken a urine sample and the initial analysis shows no signs of kidney problems. They are going to analyse it more. The nurse said want to keep her in for 24 hours and do another blood test before she goes. She wanted to do bloods at 10pm tonight and suggested they could keep her ANOTHER night. I said we'd prefer to collect her tonight so she said they will do the bloods at 9pm and if all is fine we can collect her after that.

I have to say, I'm surprised. DH and I both remember the vet saying "12 hours" last night (not 24) although we may have misremembered or misunderstood. I was expecting that all being well, we would be able to take her home by lunchtime. Or at the very least late afternoon / early evening (we got home at 6.30pm yesterday and we know she chewed the plant before then). Anyway I suppose we just have to do as we are told!

Our insurance has a 24 hour vetline so we could call them for a second opinion but I don't know if there's much point... We also worry that if they disagree with our vets and we follow our vets advice over theirs, they might not reimburse our whole claim.

I guess we sit tight and eat all the chocolate!

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Fluffycloudland77 · 27/03/2016 11:04

Let's hope you can take her home tonight.

cozietoesie · 27/03/2016 11:12

Yes indeed. I would guess they were unsettled by the temperature readings and want to be careful. It's a serious toxin if you ingest enough after all.

Good luck.

EnjoyTheSimpleThingsInLife · 27/03/2016 14:51

Hope your cat is back home with you soon and she is ok.

I have just seen this on facebook, thought I would post it here too. I didn't realise some plants were toxic to cats!!

Urgent advice please - amaryllis - how toxic is it?
cozietoesie · 27/03/2016 15:03

I think that the particular problem with lilies is that, all parts being toxic, pollen drops off or adheres to a cat's coat if brushed past so might be ingested if groomed. Some other plants wouldn't really be toxic unless eaten in reasonable quantity and would be unlikely to be so eaten by any halfway ordinary cat.

You'd need the view of a vet or expert to confirm that, though.

Original poster
NameChange30 · 27/03/2016 21:41

Evening all. Finally home with her. All her tests were normal and she's been fine (scared but fine). She has a dressing on her leg where the drip was in which she managed to remove on the short journey home. She got blood everywhere... We put the dressing back on which she removed... So we had to put the dressing and a cone of shame on her! She is stressed out. Obviously (according to DH) it's all my fault and I've traumatised her for nothing.

Happy Fucking Easter.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 27/03/2016 21:44

Don't worry, my dh can be like that too. I ignore it.

She's home & well and lots of people who've read this thread now about plant poisoning who didn't before.

cozietoesie · 27/03/2016 21:59

AnotherEmma

You just didn't know how much sap she'd ingested so you followed the vet's professional judgement. You did the right thing in my view and your DH can be ignored.

I'm glad she's home. Smile

Original poster
NameChange30 · 27/03/2016 22:01

Thanks Fluffy. You know what, he's being such an arse that I'm not even happy to have her home again. He's made the whole thing 100% more stressful and he's still pissed off with me for making a unilateral decision to FOLLOW THE VET'S ADVICE and take her in when according to him there was "no need". Well hindsight is a bloody wonderful thing isn't it?! Sad

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Original poster
NameChange30 · 27/03/2016 22:03

Cross post, thanks to you too cozie.

Sorry for ranting. I will do my best to follow your advice and ignore him!

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Fluffycloudland77 · 27/03/2016 22:16

Trust your instincts, you were right.

He just doesn't want to admit it.

gamerchick · 27/03/2016 22:18

You did the right thing emma it could have gone the other way and had a dead or seriously ill cat if you had listened to him. They can't tell us if they're hurting and sometimes it's just better to be safe for peace of mind.

I think I would be asking him if he wanted to wake up with said plant poking out of his nostrils if he doesnt wind his neck in though.

I'm a right Fanny when it comes to the cat, I once took her in for a wound in her ear. 50 quid later it turned out to just be a super tuft of hair. The husband eventually had a stern word and I've calmed down slightly. But would take her straight in in the position you were in last night.

Original poster
NameChange30 · 27/03/2016 22:25

gamerchick LOL at £50 for a tuft of hair Grin

Once more I'm really thankful for you lot, feel loads better after reading your posts Smile You know what, if all I did was spend £75 for the peace of mind, well fuck it, it was worth it.

Plus she's just eaten her food which has reassured me (apparently she didn't really eat when she was at the vets). I'm on the sofa with her favourite blanket on my lap hoping she'll come for a snuggle... Fingers crossed!

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