A Guide to Toxic and Non-Toxic Houseplants for dogs
Vladimir L.
House plants are a fantastic way to liven up your home, add some extra oxygen, and also provide therapeutic effects. However, if you’re a dog owner, be aware that some of these indoor plants, no matter how beautiful and benign they look, may not be safe for your pup.
As we all know, many dogs adore nibbling on indoor plants within their reach. Chewing some of them is perfectly fine and risk-free, but others can cause serious health issues or even be lethal. Educating yourself on house plants poisonous to dogs can help keep your doggy out of harm’s way while still maintaining a green and vibrant living space.
House Plants Poisonous to Dogs
* ALOE PLANTS – Aloes, including the most popular Aloe Vera, are known for their healing properties. The gel found inside the leaves applied topically is useful for treating sunburns and other skin conditions. Unfortunately, your dog is not aware of that and is more than happy to chew the leaf whole and other plant parts ingesting harmful components which can cause diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia, tremors, and lethargy.
* PHILODENDRON – Philodendrons come in many varieties and are very popular house plants due to their low maintenance and a range of colors, shapes, and growing habits. However, if you own a dog it may be for the best to steer clear of them. Philodendron contains some components that are very toxic for dogs and can lead to oral irritation, trouble swallowing, vomiting, drooling, and foaming. The most severe cases of poisoning can provoke renal failure and coma.
* JADE – These easy to care for and long-lasting plants are toxic to both humans and dogs. The most common symptoms of jade poisoning include slower heart-rate, vomiting, lack of coordination, and depression.
* SNAKE PLANT – Also known as _Sanseveria,_ this beautiful plantthrives in the low-light making it a favorite in homes and offices. Still, when ingested by your dog can cause some serious gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea.
* POTHOS – small, adaptable, and easy to maintain, Pothos (aka Devil’s Ivy) is a staple of home decoration, but it contains raphides, needle-shaped crystals that can have several harmful effects to dogs, including mouth swelling, burning and irritation of the lips and tongue, drooling, and vomiting, and swallowing difficulties.
These are just some of the more popular house plants poisonous to dogs. There are also numerous others that you should be aware of, including _Dieffenbachia, Dracaena, Oleander, Lilies, English Ivy, Euphorbia, Asparagus Fern, ZZ Plant, Cyclamen_, and many others.
Houseplants Safe for Dogs
Of course, caring for your pet well-being doesn’t necessarily mean that you should rob yourself of a lovely and colorful looking living room or working space. It only means that you should do proper research and populate your home with plants that will not endanger your dog’s health. In just a few clicks you can get all of the information you need. We suggest using consulting ASPCA [https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants] (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) list of toxic and non-toxic plants for dogs every time you consider getting a new plant or receive one as a gift. Of course, just because a plant is non-toxic doesn’t mean that you should let your dog chew on them whenever it feels like it.
There are plenty of safe and dog-friendly plants for dogs to choose from that can brighten up your house without having to stress every time your dog comes near them. Here are some suggestions:
* BOSTON FERN
* SPIDER PLANT
* STAGHORN FERN
* AFRICAN VIOLET
* ARECA PALM
* POLKA DOT PLANT
* BABY RUBBER PLANT
* DONKEY’S TAIL
* FITTONIA
* ZEBRA CACTUS
* PRAYER PLANT
