Many people enjoy eating carnations for their beautiful flowers or even making them into decorations or food dishes. Unfortunately, those same admirers may not know that some types of carnation bulbs are actually toxic to cats!
Some brands contain acrylamide, an organic compound found in dry roasted nuts and vegetables. Acrylamide can cause health problems for humans when consumed orally or directly absorbed through exposure to airways.
However, it is very difficult to consume enough carnation bulbs to experience any harmful effects. Even if you were to eat all 10 grams (0.3 oz) of dried bulb powder per day, your body would still be starved for essential nutrients.
This article will discuss more details about carnation toxicity, how to tell whether or not a batch contains acrylamide, and what to do if you find one does.
How do carnations affect cats?
When flowers are new, they can be beautiful additions to your home. However, not all flower types are the same! Some contain chemicals that cannot be completely removed when you wash them away.
Carnation plants are one such type of plant. They can contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which are harmful to dogs and some animals and humans.
Many florists use dried carnation blooms as a cheap substitute for real roses. Because these decorations are often marketed as “pretty” and “cheap”, many people assume that they must be safe for our pets.
However, like any other plant material, even if a product is labeled as being free of PAs, it may still contain enough PA levels to be toxic to your pet.
Fortunately, there are ways to prevent exposure to PAs in pet-friendly products. You should always read your labels, but here we will discuss how to limit exposures from fresh cut or dried carnations.
Are there any symptoms cats may show?
While many think that cut flowers are only valuable for their beauty, some intend to make them more practical by putting them in water or having your cat look at them so they can admire them. Unfortunately, this does not work when it comes to carnation plants.
Carnations contain an alkaloid compound called hirsutine. This chemical is what makes the flower really beautiful but also causes health issues for animals who come into contact with it.
When dogs ingest enough of the plant, they can develop dermatitis or skin inflammation. In very large amounts, it can be fatal for dogs.
For cats, even small exposures to hirsutine can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weight loss, and other serious problems. Fortunately, most cats will never experience these severe reactions due to limited exposure to the plant.
Removing the flower before it dries out can prevent too much of the toxin from being ingested.
Can cats be exposed to carnations through licking?
While most people associate lilies with Valentine’s Day, there are other beautiful spring flowers that can pose potential health problems for your cat. One of these is the classic white carnation!
Carnations are considered an aromatic flower so they contain volatile oils that help attract pollinators. However, some of these floral oils can have negative effects on some individuals or animals.
A small amount of carnation oil in human skin has been linked to allergic reactions. In fact, one commercially-produced lip balm contains up to 5% crude carnation oil![1] This could cause issues for sensitive individuals who already suffer from dry or itchy skin.
For this reason, many people avoid consuming carnation products directly.
Can cats be exposed to carnations through eating?
Although most people associate the pretty white or pink flowers with spring, some varieties of the plant are considered toxic for dogs and cats. These include “old-fashioned” red carnations as well as all other shades of purple ones.
A small amount of these plants can cause health problems in animals, even death in larger amounts. Because this is possible only when you have exposure, it is important to know what kind of exposures your cat may face.
If you come across any signs of toxicity in your cat, take them right away to see if they improve symptoms. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do outside of veterinary care until then!
Topic and sentence structure: How to tell if a flower is safe for your cat
Under no circumstances should you allow your dog or cat to eat a large enough proportion of a poisonous plant that they could become seriously ill from it.
Sadly, though, because poisoning happens rarely, many owners forget about potential dangers. That is why it is so important to be aware of which plants are harmful to ensure your pet does not ingest anything too much of.
Can cats be exposed to carnations through spraying?
While most people appreciate the beauty of carnations, not everyone loves them. Some individuals perceive that they are a nuisance to keep because they like to grow more flowers or flower bouquets.
Many feel discouraged when their plants do not seem to thrive under limited water conditions or when they notice dried up leaves and stems.
Some believe that these changes are caused by the plant needing extra moisture or being intolerant of poor soil quality. This could potentially be due to something internal (e.g., lack of nutrition) or external (like exposure to chemicals).
In fact, some dogs have even been known to eat enough carnation petals to get sick or worse, to ingest the alcohol content which can cause vomiting and diarrhea!
Given all this, it is no wonder that many people discard old foliage or flowers after picking them off the plant. Fortunately, there are ways to help your cat love carnations again! Read on to find out how.
Are there any precautions we should take when working with carnations?
While some people claim that carnation flowers are toxic for dogs, cats, and horses, this is not true. There are no known health risks from eating or rubbing dry petals of carnations against your skin.
Many breeders choose to use dried carnation petals in cat diets as a colorant due to its hue.
However, it is important to know what kind of plastic bagging equipment was used to process and dry down the flower stalks. Only high quality equipment can prevent contamination and chemical exposure.
Are there any symptoms my cat may show?
The first time I mentioned this, some of you might remember reading about how deadly it is for dogs when they eat too many carnation flowers. Unfortunately, similar studies have not been done with cats, so we do not know if eating large amounts of these flowers can be as harmful to them.
However, like most things related to plants, there are certain plant parts that may actually help your kitty!
For example, the roots of the carnation flower contain inositol, which helps reduce stress and stimulates appetite. Therefore, adding dried carnation root to your feline’s food could possibly help promote health and weight gain.
It is also important to note that although people usually refer to white or yellow blossoms as “carnations,” purple ones contain higher levels of alkaloids than either white or yellow ones. Alkaloid content varies depending on the cultivar (variety) of carnation, but all types contain significant levels.
This means that even though white or yellow carnations are less toxic to humans, purple ones are more potent. It is best to buy from reputable sellers who test their products before selling them.
What should I do if my cat has consumed carnations?
If you find your dog or cat acting lethargic, having trouble moving around or eating, there are several possible culprits that may be causing this behavior.
One of these potential causes is exposure to oxalates. Oxalate-containing plants can have very harmful effects on animals that eat them.
Oxalate includes substances found in some types of spinach, rhubarb, strawberries, nuts, cocoa powder, soy sauce, dried beans, carrots, cucumber, mushrooms, almonds, and celery.
Because dogs and cats don’t seem to develop symptoms until they’ve eaten enough oxalate, it takes only minutes for an overdose to occur. Therefore, if you’re trying to diagnose a poisoning case, you must wait to see if your animal recovers before adding new foods!
On average, most puppies and kittens grow out of the habit of eating vegetables within two months. Because carnivores (animals who consume mostly meat) typically take longer than omnivorous pets to outgrow their vegetable phobia, more time might be needed to determine whether or not your pet was exposed to oxalate.
If your puppy or kitten still acts sluggish six weeks after they were given an alternative diet, speak with your vet about other possibilities such as food allergies or intestinal issues.