Most gardeners know at least some of the plants in our backyards are toxic to dogs and cats. But it’s not just the azaleas you need to worry about. You might think the houseplants on your windowsills are safe. After all, how dangerous can a philodendron, pothos vine, or bird of paradise be? It turns out they’re pretty bad for your dog or your cat.
Lilies
Not all lilies are deadly for dog pets. Varieties like the Peace Lily, Peruvian Lily, and Calla Lily that can cause minor irritation and excessive drooling. However, dogs the Asiatic, Easter, Day, Japanese Snow and Tiger lily are extremely toxic. Ingestion (by dog or cat) could result in kidney failure.
Asparagus fern
Do you love lush, green plants? Then, you might be tempted to add the asparagus fern — which, for the record, isn’t a true fern — to your houseplant collection. Plus, Apartment Therapy recommends the asparagus fern for your bathroom, particularly if it gets plenty of sun. That’s because the asparagus fern thrives in warm, humid environments, unlike some of the other houseplants you might find at your local home improvement store. But a bathroom with an asparagus fern in it should probably stay off-limits to your pets. According to the ASPCA, the asparagus fern is toxic to dogs and cats.
Aloe Vera
While Aloe Vera is a wonderful plant for humans because of it’s skin-smoothing properties, but it has the opposite affect on pet dogs. The leaves contain a type of gel substance which isn’t harmful to your pet if it’s ingested, but the other parts of the plant can harm a dog’s digestive system.
Tulips
These stunning spring favorites are pretty tame compared to some other plants on here unless your dog or cat gets to the bulb. Pets who eat the bulbs may experience symptoms like excess drooling, vomiting and mouth irritation. If a dog ingests a larger amount, they could have experience heart and respiratory problems.
Caladium
Caladium, also referred to as elephant ears, makes a pretty dramatic statement as a houseplant or in your landscaping outdoors. According to Apartment Therapy, large-scale potted plants like elephant ears “can look great in a room that needs an empty space filled. Their size gives them a sculptural presence, and nothing brings life to a room like a lot of green.” However, you’ll want to skip this particular houseplant if you think the large leaves could become a target for a curious dog or cat. The ASPCA warns caladium is toxic to both dogs and cats.
Jade
The Jade plant goes by many aliases such as Jade Tree, Dwarf Rubber Plant, Chinese or Japanese Rubber Plant, Friendship Tree and Baby Jade. Whatever you want to call it, be sure to keep it away from your pet dog or cat. Nobody really knows what the specific toxins are in this plant, but ingesting it can result in vomiting, incoordination (ataxia), a slow heart rate (bradycardia) and/or depression.