Owning a dog for a pet is one of the prides of animal lovers. In the same way, having plants in a house can go a long way in tying together the interior décor of a room. However, while both animals and plants can liven up a home, they are not always compatible. Technically, there are some species of plants that may be attractive for you to use at home, but not so much healthy for your dog. Some of the plant species can go as far as proving to be fatal if they are ingested by your dog.
At one point, you have to figure out which one is more important to you, whether the plant or the dog. Ultimately, before you make that decision, you need some insight into the house plants that are actually poisonous for your dog. Here are the seven most common ones to avoid:
Lilies
Lilies are everything when it comes to inviting some positivity in your home. Even though the beautiful plant could have you all sold out on keeping it inside your house, understand that it can pose a health threat to your dog. Technically, there are quite several plants in the Lily family of plants. The Peace Lily type is the one that is dangerous for your dog, not to mention, cat. If the plant is ingested by your pet, your dog or cat could start vomiting and have a problem swallowing due to irritated lips and tongue.
Aloe Vera
Second in this list of house plants poisonous to dogs is the Aloe Vera. The very popular plant is loved by humans for its therapeutic effect on the skin, not to mention has quite some health benefits for the digestive system. Even then, when it comes to dogs, the narrative changes.
Technically, part of the Aloe Vera plant is still good for your dog and does not have any harmful effects, particularly the leaves, which contain a type of gel substance which is not detrimental to your pet if it is ingested. However, the other parts of the plant can harm a dog’s digestive system.
Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)
This very leafy plant will not do you any good if you own a dog. Also known as Exotica or Tropic Snow, this plant has harmful toxins that can result in burning/swelling of the mouth and tongue as well as difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, and increased salivation. The worst-case scenario is death.
Ivy (Hedera Helix)
If you have heard of Poison Ivy, then you should not be surprised to find this plant in the list. Generally, poison Ivy is harmful even to humans, but to dogs, even regular Ivy can be harmful. If your dog eats this plant, then you can expect a rash and breathing problems, or worse, a coma or paralysis.
Cannabis
Cannabis can be a really bad idea to grow in your house around pets, and it happens to be one of the most common plants poisoning vets see on dogs. It can cause symptoms like tremors, drooling, seizures, possible respiratory problems, depression, and coma, to mention a few.
Asparagus Fern
Also known as the Emerald Fern, Emerald Feather, Sprengeri Fern, Lace Fern, and Plumosa Fern, the plant contains a toxin called Sapogenin. If the berries of this plant are ingested, it can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and inflammation of the skin.
Lantana
Last in our list is the Lantana plant that is extremely poisonous for both dogs and cats. Technically, this plant is considered a weed in Australia. The plant may be colorful, but the toxins it contains can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, loss of appetite, shock, abdominal swelling, paralysis, possible liver failure if ingested.
