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Keep Your Dog Safe and Healthy
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The following are popular, but toxic houseplants.
Please be aware, however, that there are other toxic houseplants not listed here.
If you are uncertain whether a plant is toxic to your dog (and other family members), contact your veterinarian or do a search of the plant's name on the Internet.
Araceae Family
All of the Araceae plants listed here contain needle-like crystals of calcium oxalate.
These crystals are responsible for the following symptoms:
intense burning and irritation of the mouth parts, including the lips and tongue, excessive drooling, swallowing difficulties and vomiting.
Some species have a sap that causes moderate to severe itching if the sap contacts the skin.
- Caladium aka Elephant's Ear, Mother-in-law Plant, Angel Wing (Caladium hortulanum)
- Ceriman aka Cutleaf Philodendron, Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)
- Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)
- Cordatum (Philodendron oxycardium)
- Devil's Ivy (Epipremnum aureum)
- Dumb Cane aka Mother-in-law's Tongue Plant (Dieffenbachia)
- Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
- Green Gold Nephthysis (Syngonium podophyllum)
- Marble Queen (Scindapsus aureus)
- Mauna Loa Peace Lily, aka Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
- Nephthytis (Syngonium podopyllum)
- Taro Vine (Colocasia esculenta)
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Dracaenas (Agavaceae family)
Dracaenas cause vomiting, inappetence (loss of appetite), drooling, incoordination, weakness, and depression.
- Red-Margined Dracaena, aka Straight-Margined Dracaena (Dracaena marginata)
- Striped Dracaena (Dracaena deremensis)
- Corn Plant aka Cornstalk Plant (Dracaena frangrans massangeana)
- Warneckei Dracaena (Dracaena dermensis)
Ferns (Liliaceae family)
These ferns cause allergic dermatitis with repeated contact with the plant.
Eating the berries can cause vomiting, abdominal pain and/or diarrhea.
Hanging these toxic houseplants, instead of keeping them on tables or plant stands, will keep them out of your dog's reach.
- Asparagus Fern (Asparagus sprengeri)
- Plumosa Fern (Asparagus plumosus)
Flowering Plants
- Cyclamen (Cyclamen spp) Family: Primulaceae
Cyclamens cause vomiting, gastrointestinal upset and inflammation, and possibly death. - Common Name: Marijuana (Cannabis sativa) Family: Cannabinaceae
Ingestion of marijuana leaves or stems can result in prolonged central nervous system depression, respiratory depression, weakness, ataxia (Loss of the ability to coordinate muscular movement), sedation, and sometimes hyperexcitation. Do your dog a favour — don't grow this toxic houseplant.
Succulents
- Aloe (Aloe vera) Family: Liliaceae
If ingested, aloe can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, depression, anorexia, and a change in urine colour. To be safe, also keep any aloe vera health drinks, gels and ointments out of your dog's reach.
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Trees
- Schefflera aka Umbrella Tree (Schefflera actinophylla or Brassaia actinophylla) Family: Araliaceae
Scheffleras can cause burning and irritation of the mouth parts, including the lips and tongue, excessive drooling, swallowing difficulties, and vomiting.
Removing these toxic houseplants will go a long way towards ensuring that your dog remains with you in good health for many years.
If you don't want to get rid of them, place them out of his reach. And make sure to pick up any fallen leaves before he finds them.
Or look to alternatives. Silk plants have come a long way in terms of realism, although you may miss the scents and the air-freshening qualities of some houseplants.
When it comes to beautiful and safe houseplants, there are many choices for nontoxic plants. Visit the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals site for a long list of nontoxic garden plants.
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