Coca Cola was Invented on this Day in 1886

Coca Cola was invented on this day in 1886. That's right! Perhaps the most popular soft drink came to be 138 years ago. Dr. John Styth Pemberton, a pharmacist from Atlanta, is credited with coming up with the sugary formula. He created a syrup in a brass pot while in his backyard. He was actually attempting to make some sort of medicine. Our guess is he was trying to make cough syrup. There are stories about how actual cocaine may or may not have been part of the original beverage. We think, if true, the cocaine was later replaced with caffeine for that mid-afternoon jolt.

However, Coke was not the first soft drink on the market. The first soft drinks were non carbonated and appeared in the 17th century. They were made from water and lemon juice and used honey as a sweetener.

Even Dr. Pepper is a year older than Coke. It was invented in 1885 by pharmacist Charles Alderton in Waco, Texas in 1885.

Eventually, Pepsi, which would become Coke's number one competitor, arrived in 1893. Not much after Coca Cola was invented on this day in 1886, the Cola wars would grow in the 1900's and continue today. In fact, they are major advertisers across the sports landscape today. Go to a live sporting event and you will surely see a billboard or see/hear a soft drink advertising the event as a major sponsor.

Now, when you go to the store there are literally hundreds of soft drinks and numerous variations. There are diet versions with artificial sweeteners. There are non-caffeinated versions. Extra caffeine too. And numerous flavors and brands. And many of them advertise during sporting events as well.

Speaking of sports, join us every afternoon on Craig Shemon and Company on ESPN Southwest Florida.

Florists in Southwest Florida and around the country have put in extra orders and are stocking up for this weekend. However, before you purchase a bouquet for dear old mom, there is something you need to know if you have a dog. There are at least 5 Mother's Day flowers that can poison your pet.

Flowers are one of the most popular gifts to give mom. They are generally easy to find in stores and are relatively inexpensive when compared to other potential gifts.

If you have a dog or cat, you know the potential for them to get into things. Leave a bouquet of flowers on the table and they could end up destroyed and all over the floor. Those flowers might look pretty, but some of their blooms, stems and leaves can contain toxins.

According to the folks at House Digest, this time of year shows a significant spike in online searches for whether or not certain flowers are toxic to dogs. Veterinarians love that people are actually thinking about pet safety while still honoring mom.

House Direct consulted with Dr. Kathryn Dench, MA, VetMB, and Chief Scientific Advisor at Paw Origins, and Dr. Kristi Crow for the floral insights found below.

I like to start with the positive. Let's take a look at flowers that are generally considered safe to be around your inquisitive pets. Dr. Crow recommends looking at bouquets with roses, orchids, sunflowers, snapdragons, zinnias, marigolds, and African violets among others.

If you are looking for a unique way to give those flowers, click here for a couple of fun DIY projects for Mother's Day. You can even get the kids involved.

Lilies are gorgeous springtime flowers. But. Dr. Dench warns, "They contain compounds like lycorine that can cause kidney failure, especially in cats." She says if cats eat any part of a lily, it can be extremely dangerous. For dogs, eating the flowers can lead to stomach upset and lethargy. Avoid any kind of flower with lily in the name just to be safe.

Tulips are another gorgeous spring flower.  However, "The bulbs of tulips contain a compound called tulipalin A and B, which can cause a range of intense toxicity symptoms," Dr. Dench shared. "These include gastrointestinal symptoms, such as stomach upset, drooling, and loss of appetite, as well as nervous system problems like sedation, convulsions, and cardiac abnormalities." 

Foxgloves come in various shades and look great in bouqets. with distinctive markings. However,  Dr. Crow says they can cause serious health issues. "Foxglove contains cardiac glycosides, which can cause gastrointestinal upset, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, heart arrhythmias, and in severe cases, cardiac arrest in pets," Best to exclude them from arrangements.

Daffodils, with their trumpet-shaped blossoms and vibrant yellow petals contain alkaloids. Dr. Crow says they can cause gastrointestinal issues, drooling and vomiting. In severe cases, ingesting these cheerful flowers could cause convulsions and cardia arrhythmias. 

These pom pom looking flowers are colorful and popular floral arrangements. However, Dr Crow says no. "Chrysanthemums contain pyrethrins, which can cause gastrointestinal upset, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, tremors and seizures in pets."

Not quite as toxic but still on the list to be careful with are these: