With most pets spending more time indoors during winter, it’s particularly important to be vigilant about potentially toxic indoor plants.
Below we’ve compiled a list of some of the more common toxic indoor plants to avoid bringing into your house, plus some information on what to do if ever you think your dog has eaten something dangerous.
Toxic indoor plants for dogs
If you’re ever adding to your indoor plant collection, it’s a good idea to check first whether that plant is pet safe.
Whilst not an exhaustive list, below are some of the more common indoor plants that can be toxic to dogs if eaten:
- Aloe Vera
- Fiddle Leaf Fig
- Jade plant/Money plant
- Philodendron
- Peace lily
- Pothos/Devil’s Ivy
- Snake plant
- English Ivy
- Dieffenbachia
- Daffodils
- Tulips and hyacinths
- Cyclamen
- Sago palm
Depending on the type of toxic plant your pet eats, symptoms may include:
- Lethargy
- Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
- Abnormal drooling
- Reluctance to eat
- Weakness or wobbliness
- Muscle tremors
- Seizures
What should I do if I think my pet may have eaten a toxic plant?
Firstly, remove any remaining plant material from your dog’s mouth, and, if you’re unsure what type of plant it is, take a photo of the plant for identification purposes.
Time is of the essence with the treatment of poisonings, so it’s best to contact our team or the Animal Poisons Helpline ASAP. Depending on what type of toxin your pet ate and when, recommended treatments may include:
- Carefully rinsing their mouth out with fresh water
- An immediate visit to the clinic so that we can induce vomiting to empty your pet’s stomach
- A full anaesthesia so we can flush out your pet’s stomach
- The administration of activated charcoal powder to help bind up any free toxin in your pet’s stomach
- Supportive treatment such as intravenous fluids and anti-vomiting medication
- Monitoring your pet’s organ function with blood tests
For more information on potentially toxic household plants or products for pets, consult our knowledgeable team.