Pets And Plants
Deborah Light-Pacheco UCCE Master Gardener
There's nothing more inviting then having a home filled with warm furry friends and bright cheery plants. Unfortunately, they often don't go well together, especially if your house plant is toxic and your pet likes to nibble. Its a quandary! However, you can be proactive to avoid potential sick pets by knowing the plants you have in and around your home's landscaping. For the purposes of this article, I will focus on indoor plants. First, it is always good to know the type of plants you bring into your home. It is then easy to research whether it is a pet friendly species or not. If you don't know the name, there are many online sites which use a photograph on your smart phone to help identify the plant for further research. Second, once you identify a toxic plant, you can remove it from the house or place it where your fur buddy has no access. The ASPCA has a website which notes hundreds of toxic and non-toxic plants, both indoor and outdoor. Note that their list is not all inclusive, but contains the more common plants. The listed plants have different affects on the animal, some with mild effects, some with devastating effects. Check it out (www.aspca.org)! The ASPCA also have an animal poison control center phone number listed. Be sure to know the location and number of your emergency pet center!
Some of the more common toxic houseplants include the Corn Plant; Sago Palm; Aloe vera; Jade Plant; Lilies; Caladium, aka Elephant Ear; Dieffenbachia or Dumb Cane; Asparagus Fern; Pothos or Devil's Ivy; Philodendrons; Poinsettia; Peace Lily; Snake Plant; Weeping Fig and Umbrella Plant. These plants cause varying effects including vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, difficulty breathing, disorientation, heart palpitations, loss of appetite, dilated pupils and excessive licking or scratching and drooling.
Safe plants include Areca Palm, Money Plant, Spider Plant, Purple Waffle Plant, Bamboo Palm, Wax Plant, Lilyturf, Boston Ferns, Dwarf Date Palm and Moth Orchid, African Violets, some succulents. Have both your plants and pets in a safe environment by educating yourself to which plants are pet friendly! Stay safe, green and pet friendly!
- www.ucanr.edu, www.aspca.org, www.mbvets.com, www.hillspet.com, www.akc.org, www.marshallcountyhealthdepartment.com, www.poisonconrol.utah.edu