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Home , Daylily, Lily of the Valley

728 TOXICOLOGY BRIEF Veterinary Technician October 2005

BULB TOXICOSIS

Elizabeth Van Winkle, AS, BS, CVT ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Dogs that like to chew and dig in Urbana, Illinois the garden can unearth potentially harmful that, if ingested, can cause serious clinical signs.

A 3-year-old Labrador mix is presented to the clinic after his , contain at least 15 different owner caught him digging up ornamental bulbs that she had just alkaloids. Tulipa (tulip) spp contain compounds known as tulipalin A and B planted in the garden. The owner became concerned when the dog and tuliposide A that may act as con- started vomiting and the vomitus contained pieces of bulbs. tact irritants or allergens.3 Colchicum spp contain numerous tropolone alka- Ornamental bulbs can be a problem lilies ( spp) are highly toxic to loids that can inhibit cell division.4 This for pets year-round, but in the fall, catsa; many other toxic , includ- can cause multiorgan failure, including when gardeners tend to bulbs for ing several that are not commonly cardiovascular, renal, and liver fail- spring blooming, the opportunities for known as lilies, belong to the lily fam- ure.1–4 Clinical signs may include vom- exposure to large quantities of bulbs ily (). , which are iting, diarrhea, central nervous system increase. Curious dogs may be tempted members of the lily family but not in depression, and paresis. to get into a bag of unplanted bulbs or the Lilium, can produce signs of to dig up fresh plantings. Fertilizers toxicosis when ingested. Daylilies CLINICAL SIGNS such as bone or blood meal can also (genus Hemorocallis) do not grow from Signs of ingestion of ornamental attract dogs to bulb gardens.1 true bulbs but rather from bulbs can range from mild gastroin- Although most of the common cul- (bulb-like roots). Either genus of lily testinal (GI) upset to other, more seri- prits in bulb toxicosis are planted in the can cause acute renal failure in . In ous signs, including cardiac arrhyth- fall for spring blooming, not all plants dogs, signs can range from gastroin- mias, seizures, and death.1–4 The toxins that cause toxicosis bloom in the testinal problems to central nervous in bulbous plants are more concen- spring. The autumn crocus (Colchicum system depression. trated in the bulbs; therefore, ingestion autumnale), which is sometimes con- of the bulb can cause more significant fused with members of the spring- MECHANISM OF ACTION clinical signs than ingestion of blooming Crocus spp,2 and gladiolas Ornamental bulbs contain a variety foliage.2 Depending on the size of the (Gladiolus spp), which bloom in the of chemicals that can cause clinical animal, there may also be a potential summer, are toxic when ingested. Lilies signs of toxicosis. Alkaloids, one of the for foreign body obstruction. bloom in the summer and may be most common types of toxic chemicals, If an animal ingests Crocus, Hyacin- planted in the spring or fall. “True” are often concentrated in ornamental thus (hyacinth), Galanthus (snowdrop), bulbs. Narcissus and Amaryllis spp or Tulipa bulbs, clinical signs are usu- aFor more information about cats and lily toxicosis, see “Beautiful Lilies — A Poten- may contain several alkaloids such as ally limited to mild or moderate GI tial -Astrophe,” which appeared on lycorine, galanthamine, and tazettine. upset. Most of these patients can be page 236 of the April 2002 issue. Daffodils, which belong to the genus monitored at home by their owners as

Toxicology Brief is contributed by veterinary technicians at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals–Animal Poison Control Center, 1717 S. Philo Rd., Suite 36, Urbana, IL 61802; hotline: 888-4ANI-HELP (888-426-4435) or 900-443-0000 (a $50 consultation fee is charged to the caller’s telephone bill); email: [email protected] (for nonemergency information only); Web site: www.apcc.aspca.org. Veterinary Technician October 2005 BULB TOXICOSIS 729

long as signs remain mild and self- Like the , the lily of the valley THE ROLE OF THE TECHNICIAN limiting.1,2 (Convallaria majalis) grows from a rhi- Client education is an important Ingestion of such plants as Cycla- zome. Ingestion of this or any other part of a technician’s job. Dog owners men spp, Gladiolus spp, Iris spp, part of the plant can cause severe car- need to understand that their pets Narcissus spp (daffodils, jonquils, diotoxic signs similar to digitalis toxic- may be attracted to freshly planted paperwhites), or Arisaema tri- ity. Lily of the valley has been found to bulbs, even when they do not bother phyllum (jack-in-the-pulpit) may contain at least 15 cardiac glycosides, the plants during other times of the cause severe vomiting and diar- which can cause bradycardia and other year.b Identifying the particular bulb rhea.1,2 Even small amounts of cardiac arrhythmias, including com- or bulbs is also very important the iris can cause signifi- plete heart block and asystole. Seizures, because knowing the species of plant cant GI irritation, including ulcer- coma, and death may occur.1–4 Signs ingested can help in determining what ation of the stomach and small may be more significant in very young clinical signs to expect and what intestine.2 Signs of Narcissus inges- or very old animals or those with renal treatment is necessary. Clients with tion can include hypothermia and GI or hepatic insufficiency. tenacious diggers and chewers may ulceration.1 Death has been reported in want to avoid planting certain bulb cattle that ingested Narcissus spp.3 TREATMENT species in their gardens. Fences may The jack-in-the-pulpit belongs to the Treatment of a pet that has ingested be useful in keeping pets away from Araceae family, which includes Philo- ornamental bulbs depends on the status certain bulbs and plants. In addition, dendron and Dieffenbachia spp. Mem- of the animal, the type of plant, and the it can be suggested to owners to plant bers of this family, also known as the amount of plant material ingested. If bulbs in wire cages to prevent some Arum family, contain insoluble cal- the animal is asymptomatic, decontam- animals from digging them up. cium oxalate crystals, which can cause ination with emetics or activated char- b mechanical damage to the oral mucous coal is recommended. Treatment is usu- For more information about establishing clinic plant references for staff and clients, membranes, esophagus, and stomach. ally symptomatic and supportive. If GI see “Potentially Toxic Garden Plants,” Clinical signs can include hypersaliva- signs are present, antiemetics may be which appeared on page 356 of the May tion, oral irritation, swelling, pain, indicated, along with GI protectants 2005 issue. vomiting, and diarrhea. If there is sig- such as sucralfate and famotidine.1,2 If nificant swelling of the pharynx, respi- the owner has indicated that the bulbs REFERENCES ratory problems can arise.2 belong to a group that may cause more 1. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center C. autumnale should not be con- serious problems, treatment may Case Database: Unpublished data, fused with the spring-blooming cro- include hospitalization, intravenous Urbana, IL, 1998–2005. cus. The autumn crocus blooms in the fluids, and other medication as needed. 2. Lieske CL: Spring-blooming bulbs: A fall, and ingestion of the bulbs can The animal may need to be closely year-round problem. Vet Med 97(8): cause much more serious problems. monitored for any renal or hepatic 580–588, 2002. The first sign is usually diarrhea, damage and for electrolyte and fluid 3. Spoerke DG, Smolinske SC: Toxicity of which is sometimes bloody, followed imbalances. Seizures and other severe Houseplants, Boca Raton, FL, CRC by abdominal pain, vomiting, depres- signs such as cardiac arrhythmias Press, 1990. sion, and drooling. The animal may should be treated with the appropriate 4. Burrows GE, Tyrl RJ: Toxic Plants of become weak and ataxic and may col- medications. Treatment may be neces- North America. Ames, Iowa State Uni- lapse 24 to 72 hours after exposure.1–4 sary for several days.1,2 versity Press, 2001. VT