What You Should Know About Your Pets and Plants

Now that spring is here, many people will begin refreshing their yards and gardens with new plants or choose to bring a little of the outdoors in to liven their living space. People pick plants for decorative or beneficial purposes, not always knowing the harm these plants can cause to their beloved pet.

What plants can be harmful for my pet?

Aloe Vera –  commonly used for burns and edible to humans.

Sago Palm – often planted around homes or near pools for lush green landscaping.

Many common flowers used in gardens- azaleas, daffodils, lilies, and tulips, are poisonous to your pet.

English Ivy – commonly found in home gardens.

Elephant Ears – another common garden plan, known for its large leaves.

Mother in law tongue – Common in offices and homes because it is easy to grow and well known for its air purifying abilities.

Common spring weeds like the bluebonnet and buttercup are both poisonous to pets.

Although not spring time plants, mistletoe and holly are both poisonous to pets and very common during the holiday season.

Tomato and Potato plants – both are poisonous to your pet and care should be taken when growing these in your garden.

Symptoms when your pets encounter these plants can vary from mild stomach discomfort to vomiting and diarrhea, lethargy, and increased thirst, according to PETMD.com mouth irritation and respiratory issues can also be signs your pet may have ingested a toxic plant. If you believe your animal has eaten a poisonous plant and is showing any of these signs, contact your vet immediately. If you know the plant the pet has eaten take a sample to the vet and if possible, any regurgitation that may occur. For a more complete list of toxic and nontoxic plants, please visit the ASPCA page.

What are safe alternative plants?

Boston Fern – a popular lush green house plant.

Purple Basil – an edible plant with beautiful purple foliage can be grown indoors, outdoors, and does well in pots.

Pineapple Sage – has bright pink flowers and smells good, attracts butterflies and humming birds to your garden as well as a good kitchen ingredient.

Snap dragons – an easy to grow flower that comes in a variety of colors.

Areca Palm – a great indoor plant known for its air purification abilities.

African Violets – An easy to grow plant that blooms year-round.

Lavender – Purple scented flowers known for their calming capabilities, these are also edible and used as bug repellent.

What plants do you make sure to keep your pets away from? Leave a comment and let us know!