The spring hazards that most often put pets at risk are garden plants such as lilies and bulbs, lawn fertilizers and pesticides, cleaning products and solvents, holiday chocolate and plastic Easter grass, birdseed that contains raisins, and windows left open without sturdy screens. Some of these are dangerous mainly to cats, some mainly to dogs, and some to both. If you suspect your pet has eaten or touched any of them, contact your veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control right away. Do not wait for symptoms to appear, and do not try home treatment first.
Why spring exposures increase
Spring brings several habits that move dangerous items into a pet’s reach. Owners plant gardens and bring in new flowers, spread fertilizer and mulch, clean out closets and garages, and open windows for fresh air. Easter adds chocolate and decorative grass to the house, and longer days mean more time outdoors, where pets can graze on plants or sniff at treated lawns. The ASPCA’s spring safety guidance groups these into garden plants and chemicals, household cleaners and solvents, holiday foods and decorations, and open windows.
Risk depends on species, plant part, and amount. A plant that causes mild stomach upset in one animal can be life-threatening to another, so the sections below separate cats from dogs wherever the ASPCA’s guidance does.
Spring plants and bulbs
Lilies are the most serious plant concern for cats. The ASPCA identifies daylilies and Asiatic lilies as serious risks to cats, where ingestion can cause severe kidney injury and may be fatal. Its 2022 garden guidance also warns that a cat can be exposed by grooming lily pollen from its fur, so a cat that has brushed against an open bloom and then cleaned itself may be exposed even without chewing a leaf or petal. Owners with cats should keep true lilies out of the home entirely rather than placing them on a high shelf.
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Several other spring plants are hazardous to both cats and dogs. The table below summarizes the ASPCA’s descriptions. Plant and bulb toxicity is not interchangeable, so match the plant to its entry rather than treating all spring bulbs as one risk.
| Plant | Species most affected (per ASPCA) | What the ASPCA describes |
|---|---|---|
| Daylily and Asiatic lily | Cats | Severe kidney problems that may be fatal; pollen groomed from fur can also expose a cat |
| Tulip, hyacinth, iris | Cats and dogs | Vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling; all parts contain toxic components, with bulbs most concentrated |
| Daffodil bulb | Cats and dogs | Particularly toxic; vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling, and larger ingestions can cause depression, low blood pressure, or seizures |
| Spring crocus | Cats and dogs | Gastrointestinal upset |
| Fall crocus | Cats and dogs | More severe effects, including liver, kidney, and bone marrow damage. Not the same risk as spring crocus |
| Lily of the valley (convallaria) | Cats and dogs | Highly toxic and can prove fatal if eaten (ASPCA spring safety article, 2024) |
| Japanese yew | Cats and dogs | Highly toxic and can prove fatal if eaten (ASPCA spring safety article, 2024) |
The ASPCA’s toxic-plant database states that its list is not all-inclusive and that eating any plant material may cause vomiting or gastrointestinal upset in dogs and cats. An unfamiliar plant is therefore not a safe plant. Check the botanical name before planting or bringing in cut flowers, and if you are unsure, ask a veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control to help identify it.
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Lawn and garden products
The ASPCA warns that fertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides may contain ingredients that are dangerous to pets. Store them out of reach, keep pets away from treated areas, and follow the label.
Fertilizers
Fertilizer ingestion may cause vomiting and diarrhea and, in some cases, weakness or stiffness in the hind legs. The ASPCA’s yard-and-garden guidance notes that some fertilizers contain bone meal, blood meal, bat guano, or manure, and that these may cause weakness, unsteadiness, or tremors. Organic or “natural” labels do not remove these concerns, so read the ingredient list the same way you would for any other product.
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Application timing
The ASPCA’s advice on timing depends on the product form:
- Liquid lawn products: let the lawn dry completely before pets are allowed back on it.
- Granular products: water the area well after application, and keep pets away from piles of granules before they are spread.
- Rodenticides: place them where pets cannot reach them, not just where they are unlikely to go.
Cocoa mulch
Cocoa mulch smells appealing to dogs, and the ASPCA lists it as an attraction risk. Ingestion can cause signs ranging from vomiting and diarrhea to tremors, elevated heart rate, hyperactivity, and seizures, depending on how much was eaten. The ASPCA suggests shredded pine or cedar bark as less-toxic alternatives.
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- GET THE RIGHT AMOUNT FOR YOUR PET - One tube covers dogs & cats up to 30 lbs. Dog weighs 31-60 lbs? Get 2 tubes. Dog weighs 61-90 lbs? Get 3 tubes. Dog weighs 91-120 lbs? Get 4 tubes. Dog weighs more than 121 lbs? Get 5 tubes. We recommend giving at least 1cc/1lb of body weight. Less than the required amount won't fully absorb the toxin — make sure you have enough based on your pet's weight.
- BROAD SPECTRUM ABSORPTION - PawMergency absorbs most common household items such as chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, and many more. It works by binding toxins in your pet's digestive tract before they can be absorbed, allowing them to be eliminated through normal bowel movements. A must have for your pet's first aid kit!
- SUPERIOR MANUFACTURING - PawMergency is proudly made in the USA by a National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) preferred supplier. It’s produced following strict Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and tested by third-party labs to ensure quality, purity, and potency.
- 2 YEAR SHELF LIFE - After each use, simply put the cap back on the end of the tube and store for up to 2 years in a cool, dry place.
Cleaners, solvents, and paints
Spring cleaning products, including those marketed as natural, may contain ingredients harmful to pets. Read the label, follow its directions, and keep cleaners and chemicals in closed cabinets that pets cannot open. Paints, mineral spirits, and solvents can be toxic and can cause irritation or chemical burns on skin, mouth, and paws, so keep pets out of rooms where these are being used until the area has been ventilated as the label directs.
Holiday foods, decorations, and birdseed
- Chocolate is toxic to both cats and dogs. Keep Easter candy in high cupboards or closed containers.
- Plastic Easter grass can cause intestinal obstruction in a cat that eats it, with severe vomiting and dehydration. It is a common and easily avoided hazard, so use paper shred or another material that a pet cannot swallow in long strands.
- Birdseed with raisins is a concern for dogs that scavenge fallen seed. The ASPCA notes that raisin ingestion can cause kidney failure in dogs. Choose seed without raisins where dogs can reach spilled seed.
Preventing exposure
- Read and follow each product label, including storage and re-entry instructions.
- Keep cleaners, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and rodenticides inaccessible to pets.
- Keep pets off treated lawns until liquid products are dry and granular products have been watered in.
- Identify plants before you buy or plant them, and keep high-risk plants out of reach. Keep true lilies out of homes with cats.
- Install snug, sturdy window screens before opening windows, especially where cats live. The ASPCA notes that cats can fall or jump through unscreened windows.
- Keep chocolate, lilies, and plastic Easter grass away from pets.
If you think your pet has been exposed
- Remove your pet from the area and secure the product, plant, or food so it cannot be reached again.
- Contact your veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 right away. Do not wait to see whether signs develop.
- Have the product container, its label, or a sample of the plant ready to describe, along with the time of exposure and your pet’s approximate weight and species.
- Follow the instructions you are given. Do not try home treatment, including inducing vomiting, unless a veterinarian or poison control specialist directs you to.
The ASPCA’s current spring safety guidance (ASPCA Springtime Safety Tips) states: “If you think your pet has ingested a toxic substance, contact your veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 immediately.” The ASPCA’s toxic-plant database gives the same 24-hour hotline and directs readers to a local veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control when an animal may have ingested a poisonous substance.
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What the ASPCA figures do and do not show
The ASPCA’s 2024 annual report says that ASPCA Poison Control assisted more than 320,000 animal cases and answered more than 450,000 calls, with nearly 200 veterinary experts on staff. These numbers describe the service’s workload and staffing. They are not estimates of how many pets are poisoned each spring, and they should not be read as a measure of how common any single hazard is.
The guidance here is practical hazard information from the ASPCA’s published pages. It is not a diagnosis for an individual animal, it does not cover every toxic plant, and following it does not remove every risk. When in doubt, treat the exposure as serious and call.
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