AR-News: (International) Warning about Easter Lilies

[molly]

> FELINE HEALTH ALERT: LILIES CAN BE LETHAL
> With Easter just around the corner, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
> (APCC) has partnered with the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) in a
campaign
> to educate companion animal caretakers about the potential dangers of some
> of the most popular springtime plants. Many kinds of lilies--including
> Easter lily, tiger lily, rubrum lily, Japanese show lily and some species
> of the day lily--can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested. Last year
> alone, the center handled more than 125 cases of cats ingesting a lilium
> species. Signs of toxicosis, such as vomiting, lethargy and loss of
> appetite, may appear within a few hours, and will continue to worsen as
> damage to the kidneys progresses. Without prompt and proper treatment,
> kidney failure can develop in 36-72 hours. "Unfortunately, all parts of
the
> lily are considered toxic to cats," says APCC veterinary toxicologist Dr.
> Sharon Gwaltney-Brant. "Consuming even small amounts can be
life-threatening."
>
> You can keep your feline family members safe and sound by simply removing
> all dangerous plants from their access. We also encourage you to consider
> safer but beautiful alternatives to lilies, such as Easter orchids, Easter
> daisies and violets. To help you identify potentially harmful members of
> the lily family, the APCC and CFA have developed online informational
> materials that include photos of dangerous species and a list of nontoxic
> plants.
>
> http://cfainc.org/articles/lilies.html
>