As a florist, you should have thorough knowledge of cut flowers, their qualities and drawbacks as much as you can. One of the aspects of flowers that you must be aware of is whether it is safe for pets. Below we have provided a list of pet safe flowers, and another list of flowers that are not safe.
Flowers that are totally safe and non-toxic for pets:
1. Rose
Roses are completely safe for house pets. These beautiful fragrant flowers are not only edible to humans, but also safe for cats and dogs if they accidentally end up munching on them a little. Any florist’s product catalog is incomplete without roses, and you can include them safely on your product category of pet friendly flowers as well.
2. Orchids
Contrary to popular beliefs, orchids are actually non-toxic and totally pet safe flowers for all your cats, dogs, or even farm animals. Orchids are available in so many varieties and colors, and they stay fresh for a long time. For this reason, people love having orchids around. Now you have another reason to include these elegant flowers into your product list.
3. Gerbera Daisy
Another dog and cat friendly flower to include in your collection is the gerbera daisy. These flowers are so bright, happy, and cheerful. Gerberas come in so many varieties of colors, and are perfect for happy occasions. However, there are some members of the family daisy that are in fact not safe for pets, such as chrysanthemums. So, include this information in your product page to alert your buyers who have pets at their home.
4. Sunflower
Sunflowers are such vibrant, pretty, and versatile flowers. They are extremely popular with flower lovers too. And to add to its qualities, sunflowers are completely safe flowers for your pets of any kind. In fact, the petals are edible to humans too. And we all know that sunflower seeds are used for extracting sunflower oil, which is one of the most widely used vegetable oil in the world.
5. Zinnia
Another member of the daisy family of flowers, Zinnias are non-toxic pet flowers that you should consider offering to your customers. Their vibrant colors and long lasting blooms make them an irresistible choice for flower lovers all around the world. They are available in an array of colors including red, orange, purple, pink, and more.
6. Petunia
Petunia flowers too are considered to be a pet friendly flower because they don’t cause any threat or danger to house pets, or farm animals when they are around. These bright summer flowers are available in many varieties such as Grandiflora, multiflora, and miliflora, and each one is known for their unique beauty and charm.
Flowers that are mildly to highly toxic for pets:
Here is a list of flowers that are actually not safe for pets. These flowers are extremely popular in our country as well as the rest of the world. So, as a florist, you cannot afford to not include them in your product catalogue. The best thing to do in this situation is to include a “Toxic for pets” tag with your product description and ask pet owners to keep these flowers at a distance from pets.
- Chrysanthemum
- Carnation
- Lily
- Tulip
- Daffodil
- Hydrangea
- Baby’s Breath
- Peony
- Iris
- Waxflower
- Eucalyptus
- Lavender
- Aloe Vera
Signs and symptoms of Flower and Plant toxicity
Sometimes your pets might accidentally come across plants or flowers that are harmful or even toxic to them. This is why you need to be watchful at all times when your pets are near the vicinity of such plants or flowers, not only at your own home, but anywhere else as well.
If you think your pet has come across such toxic plants or flowers, or have accidentally consumed some, watch out for these signs:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Drooling
- Coughing
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
Sometimes even by brushing their body against these plants and flowers, your pets can develop adverse reactions on skin. In such cases, watch out for signs such as rashes, itchiness, spots or boils on skin, or bald patches on skin.
If you notice any such symptoms, visit your nearest vet as soon as possible.
Having pets is a huge responsibility. And as much as you love flowers and plants, if you think there might be chances that your pets’ well-being can be affected in any way with the presence of flowers and plants that are toxic for them, it is best to avoid those.
