Toxic Houseplants to Avoid If You Have Pets

Toxic Houseplants to Avoid If You Have Pets

4-5 minute read

Toxic Houseplants to Avoid If You Have Pets

Houseplants have become a much more popular sight in nearly every home, thanks to a high social media presence. They can brighten a living space, help improve air quality, and have been shown to help reduce anxiety and depression as many people find caring for plants therapeutic and rewarding.

Unfortunately, if you have pets there are many houseplants that you should avoid bringing into your home due to their toxic properties for pets - or place them well out of reach of your pets and we'll list some of the Toxic Houseplants to Avoid If You Have Pets in this blog post.

1. Aloe Vera is a Toxic Houseplants to Avoid If You Have Pets

While great for sunburn, and pretty to look at, aloes are not so great for pets. Aloes contain anthraquinone glycosides, which are purgatives; when ingested, they can result in vomiting and diarrhoea, which can lead to further health issues such as dehydration. They are only dangerous when ingested and are completely safe to touch.
Contains: Anthraquinone glycosides
2. Peace Lilies is a Toxic Houseplants to Avoid If You Have Pets

Peace lilies are beautiful, and one of the most common flowering houseplants. Their dark leaves, white flowers, and low maintenance needs make them a very popular choice. However, peace lilies contain calcium oxalates and if consumed, can cause vomiting, irritation of the mouth and GI tract, excessive drooling, and in severe cases, difficulty swallowing or breathing. They are only dangerous when ingested and are completely safe to touch.

Contains: Insoluble calcium oxalates
3. Monstera Deliciosa is a Toxic Houseplants to Avoid If You Have Pets

Monstera deliciosa are very trendy sub-tropical houseplants thanks to their stunning tropical foliage. Sometimes referred to as "Swiss cheese plants" or "Split-leaf philodendrons," Monsteras are relatively low maintenance, making them an attractive addition to any home. Unfortunately like with the Peace Lilies, Monstera deliciosa contains insoluble calcium oxalates, and if consumed, can cause vomiting, irritation of the mouth and GI tract, excessive drooling, and in severe cases, difficulty swallowing or breathing. They are only dangerous when ingested and are completely safe to touch.

Contains: Insoluble calcium oxalates
4. Pothos Plants is a Toxic Houseplants to Avoid If You Have Pets

Due to its low maintenance nature, pothos have become a very attractive houseplant. Although pothos are completely safe to the touch, they contain insoluble calcium oxalates, and if consumed, can cause vomiting, irritation of the mouth and GI tract, excessive drooling, and in severe cases, difficulty swallowing or breathing making them Toxic Houseplants to Avoid If You Have Pets.

Contains: Insoluble calcium oxalates
5. Snake Plants is a Toxic Houseplants to Avoid If You Have Pets

Snake plants, otherwise referred to as "mother-in-law's tongue," while are non-toxic for humans, they are toxic for both cats and dogs and can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea if ingested making them Toxic Houseplants to Avoid If You Have Pets.

Contains: Saponins
6. Dumb Cane is a Toxic Houseplants to Avoid If You Have Pets

There are many different varieties of dumb canes, which vary in size from a couple of feet high to over ten feet tall when grown in ideal conditions. Unfortunately, dumb canes are highly toxic to cats and dogs when ingested, and their sap can even be a mild irritant to humans and should be kept away from bare skin. Symptoms of dumb cane poisoning in cats include vomiting, burning of the mouth, oral irritation, swelling, and in severe cases difficulty swallowing or breathing which makes them Toxic Houseplants to Avoid If You Have Pets.

Contains: Insoluble calcium oxalates and proteolytic enzyme
When looking for a houseplant for your home, do some research - there are many different plants that are toxic to pets. You can reduce the risk by putting the toxic plants up out of reach, however in our opinion it is better to find plants that are safe to keep in the home to help ensure the safety of your furry friends.

We hope you enjoyed this blog volume about Toxic Houseplants to Avoid If You Have Pets

If you would like to add to this blog about Toxic Houseplants to Avoid If You Have Pets please leave a comment below.

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