Indoor plants are a great way to decorate your home, but some plants are not so great for our pets! Luckily, there are lots of options for pet-safe plants with which your cats and dogs can live in harmony.
**Please be aware that while these plants are not toxic, any plant can cause gastrointestinal upset if ingested.
Orchid (Orchidaceae)
Money Tree (Pachira aquatica)
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis)
Echeveria (Echeveria glauca)
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum)
Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula)
Zebra Haworthia (Haworthia fasciata)
Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
Air Plants (Tillandsia stricta)
Peperomia (Peperomia spp.)
There are a few common house and garden plants that can be toxic to your pets, including:
Lilies: While many species of lily can make both dogs and cats ill, there are a few species of lilies that can make cats extremely sick. Cats can get kidney failure in as little as 3 days by encountering any part of the plant, even just by grooming pollen off of their fur or licking the water that the lilies have been sitting in. If you have a cat in your home, it is best not to keep these plants around. If you think your cat has encountered a lily – even if they are not showing any symptoms – they should be seen for care ASAP.
Sago palms: All parts of this plant are toxic, but the highest concentration of toxin is in the seeds. Even ingesting small amounts of this plant can cause liver failure, decreased ability to clot blood, and death, so it is best to keep this plant away from your pets.
Tulips: The highest concentration of toxin in tulips is in the bulb, and can cause vomiting, depression, drooling, and diarrhea in cats and dogs. Dogs that like to dig should be monitored carefully, as bulbs can be buried in the ground, especially in flower beds.
Aloe: While aloe has many great medicinal properties, unfortunately for our pets, ingesting the leaves of the plant can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and in rare cases, tremors.
Pothos: This is a very common houseplant that contains a toxin called oxalates, which can cause irritation of the GI tract, swelling and burning of the mouth, difficulty swallowing, excessive drooling, and GI upset. Fortunately, the symptoms are typically mild unless a large amount has been ingested.
Peace lily: Similar to Pothos, this plant contains oxalates and can cause the same types of GI disturbances.
Azaleas/Rhododendron: Typically, only stomach upset is seen if a small amount is ingested by cats or dogs. However, ingesting large amounts of this plant can cause irregular heartbeats and seizures.
Jade plant: This is a common houseplant that if ingested, can cause vomiting, depression, and incoordination.
Yew: This is a common yard plant that unfortunately is quite toxic to cats and dogs. Early signs of exposure can include muscle tremors, difficulty breathing, and seizures. Death from cardiac failure can occur rapidly.
Oleander: these flowering shrubs can cause cardiac arrhythmias and low blood pressure if ingested. But before this happens, symptoms often include diarrhea and vomiting.
If you think your pet is experiencing a plant toxicity, please have them evaluated by a veterinary professional and contact the ASPCA 24/7 Poison Control Hotline: 888-426-4435
It can also be helpful to take a picture of the offending plant or to bring in a sample.
Written by Dr. Amanda Carmellini
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