Be careful with houseplants!
Today is "Fascination of Plants day. Therefore I would like to emphasize the risk you take when you bring certain houseplants into your home.
A house full of plants gives you an 'indoor jungle' feeling and that can be very cozy. Add a faithful four-legged friend and the picture is complete. But it is not without danger. Do you have an overenthusiastic pet that likes to sniff around everywhere? Then your houseplant is probably not un-walked territory for them either.
There are several houseplants that are toxic to your dog or cat. Unfortunately, an animal intuitively does not know which plant is poisonous and which is not. After eating a piece of leaf, root, or seeds, your pet may experience neurotoxicity that can potentially leave behind damage. It is your job to keep your pet away from such a poisonous houseplant.
What are the consequences of such a poisonous plant?
If your pet has nibbled a poisonous plant, this does not mean that it will die (but there are cases where this can happen, so keep this in mind). If your pet has one of the following symptoms, do not hesitate to call your vet:
- Burden of his intestines
- Tendency to vomit
- Excessive saliva production
- Diminished consciousness
- Behavioral changes
- Drooling
- Diarrhea
- Swelling in mouth and throat
- Skin irritation
- Kidney failure
If you call the vet, also give the name of the plants you have in the house. That way, the veterinarian can respond appropriately.
Which houseplants are toxic?
Many of us have no idea which houseplants are poisonous and which are not. So be sure to check this out in advance!
We want to give you a hand. Here is a list of 10 popular houseplants that you should not bring into your home if you have a dog or cat:
- Desert Rose or Adenium obesum
- Chinese Evergreen or Aglaonema
- Aloe vera
- Wonder bush or Codiaeum variëgatum
- Umbrella plant or Cyperus alternifolius
- Dragon's Climb or Epipremnum Aureum
- Lilies
- Bird of Paradise Plant or Strelitzia Reginae
- Household Palm or Zamioculcas Zamiifolia
- Elephant ear or Alocasia
How do I keep my pet away from houseplants?
Maybe you're a lucky owner because their pet doesn't even drool at the sight of a houseplant. Rub your hands together because you have a lot less to worry about on this subject. Do you have a very curious jump-in-the-field in your house? Then it's a different story. You want your pet and your houseplant to stay 'round and healthy, so try to use these tips to keep your pet far away from your plant:
- Very simple: put the houseplant out of reach of your pet. Think of it as a higher table, shelf on the wall, on top of a cabinet.
- A separate plant room where your pets are not welcome
- Scare your pet with odors they don't like. Mix lemon oil with water in a spray and spray it over their potting soil and leaves. Repeat this on a regular basis and after a given time your pet will lose interest in the plant
- Make sure there is always a distraction in the room with the houseplant. This by e.g. a bone for your dog or cat grass for cat ready. In this way you get rid of boredom and they will be less interested in the plant.
Tip: in general, young kittens are more interested in plants than adult cats. This is because kittens are not allowed outside yet and therefore look for distraction elsewhere. For the first year, it is better to put your houseplant in a place where your kitten is not allowed to go.