Houseplants are great home decoration items. They can beautify the home and provide owners with a more natural and inviting living space. Some plants serve as air purifiers to help keep clean air in the house.
However, these beautiful plants can turn deadly in homes that have pets such as cats and dogs. Normal vegetation is fine and can sometimes be consumed by pets, yet there are certainly different species of plants out there that can cause more than some stomach discomfort for your dogs.
That is why it is important to remember that having dogs as pets means that you have to feed them and pay close attention to what they eat for their safety and well-being.
Dogs do not automatically know which plants are poisonous to them, so being their owner, you have the duty to keep them safe and out of harm’s way.
1) Apple trees and Cherry trees?
It is not common for dog owners that these trees have certain parts that are poisonous to canines. Cyanide is contained within their seeds, and their bark and leaves can cause problems in breathing for dogs and even make them go into shock. The fruits, however, are very safe to consume but are sure to leave out the seed when you want to give your dog a healthy snack.
2) Aloe Vera
Humans love to use Aloe Vera for its skin-care abilities and other health benefits. However, the plant is not so beneficial when consumed by your dog, especially when they consume the plant’s outer leaves. Serious conditions include diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting can occur, making your dog feel very sick.
3) Azaleas and Rhododendrons
These plants contain a certain chemical, which can cause serious conditions like excessive drooling, paralysis in the legs, vomiting, and a slowing of heart functions. The chemical at fault is grayanotoxin, which can severely affect a dog’s central nervous system. Other conditions can include colic, dizziness, and diarrhea.
4) Ferns of the Asparagus
These plants are mostly found in homes where there are hanging pots. While they make for excellent decoration items, the plant contains sapogenins, which are highly toxic to a dog’s health. They can cause severe allergic dermatitis, and ingestion of the fern’s berries can cause diarrhea and nausea in the canine’s digestive system, as well as abdominal pains.
5) The Common Pivet Hedge
The chemical known as terpenoid glycoside is found in this plant’s needles and branches. They are highly toxic and can produce upsets in the dog’s intestines, triggering racing heartbeats and palpitations. The most dangerous symptom is that it affects the dog’s sense of balance and coordination.
6) Christmas Cactus and the Clematis Vines
Both of these plants are equally as dangerous to dogs. The Christmas Cactus can bring depression and bloody diarrhea once the dog ingests the leaves or the plant itself. The vines of the Clematis contain a toxic substance known as protoanemonin, which acts as an irritant. It will cause muscle and stomach pains for any dog.
7) Oil in Eucalyptus
This plant can cause serious conditions such as vomiting, diarrhea, and depression in any dog that ingests the oil found on its leaves.
8) Garlic Houseplant
While the vegetable itself is safe for consumption, if the dog ingests the garlic houseplant, which contains N-propyl disulfide, this can cause a deterioration in red blood cells and excessive drooling in dogs, as well as leading to an increased heartbeat.
9) Hosta and Rhubarb
The saponins contained in Hosta plants trigger severe diarrhea and vomiting. In contrast, the uncooked roots and leaves of the Rhubarb contain calcium oxalate, which can cause things like tremors and put the dog at risk of suffering from kidney failure. They also cause vomiting as well.
10) Red Maple Trees
If your dog mistakenly ingests the leaves of these highly toxic plants, it will be in a world of suffering. Poisoning from ingestion of red maple leaves can cause highly inflamed paws, a sudden change in urine color, severe abdominal pains, and a loss of appetite.
If you need to have houseplants as decorations, you need to fulfill your responsibility to your dog and ensure that you do not bring in any of the poisonous plants listed in this article, home. Even if you happen to have these plants at home, make sure they are clearly out of reach from your dog, as the only person who can protect them from ingesting poisonous plants is their owner.
