We absolutely love houseplants. a little while ago we gave you our top tips for brightening your home and one of our top suggestions was to fill any empty corner with a potted plant. Not only do they bring colour and life to your room they also in some cases can improve the air quality of a room.
However not everyone is as big a fan of certain house plants as we are. Did you know that some houseplants can be poisonous to our pets? Here is a short list of some popular plants that we wanted to point out to any pet owner from Apartment Therapy.
Houseplants to keep away from pets – Ballymena Today
Aloe Vera: This common burn salve is a popular kitchen plant that’s beneficial to humans. But it can cause vomiting, depression, diarrhea, anorexia, and tremors in both dogs and cats.
Lilies: Lilies are popular in bouquets and may make frequent appearances in your home. Easter and Stargazer lilies are among those highly toxic to cats but calla lilies and peace lilies can cause reactions in both cats and dogs. Read more about cats and lilies here.
Dracaena: Dracaena plants are easy to grow and can thrive even in low-light conditions, making them quite popular. However, they are toxic to both cats and dogs. According to Vet Street, saponin is the offensive chemical compound in this plant. When ingested, vomiting (with or without blood), appetite loss, depression, and/or increased salivation can occur. Cats who’ve eaten dracaena can also exhibit dilated pupils.
Pothos: Among the most popular and ubiquitous house plants, these super easy plants do well most anywhere. Also called “devil’s ivy,” pothos contains raphides, needle-shaped crystals that can lead to: 1) burning and irritation of the lips, tongue, and mouth; 2) excessive drooling; 3) difficulty swallowing; and 4) vomiting.
English Ivy: This fast-growing climber is relatively easy to care for, and looks great either hanging or dangling its vines from a sill. But it’s quite toxic to both dogs and cats. Symptoms can range from mild breathing difficulty and a rash, to serious effects like paralysis and coma.
Jade: This decorative plant can can cause vomiting and a slow heart rate in dogs and cats. Another toxic and harder-to-spot effect of munching on jade is depression.
Philodendron: There are many types of philodendrons and they are popular, low-maintenance house plants. They are also toxic to cats and dogs, with symptoms of ingestion including oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing according to Pet Helpful. For more visit Apartment Therapy.
If you are worried about your pet because they are exhibiting some or one of the symptoms above then we advise that you book yourself and appointment with your vet. This will let them have a checkup and put your mind at rest. In the meantime if you have any of these houseplants around your pet then consider moving them out of the way before they cause any illness. Click here to find out more about vets in Ballymena