9 common houseplants that are toxic to dogs, according to experts — plus 7 safe bets
It only makes sense that you would want to keep your children safe, happy and healthy — we're talking about dog and plant children here. Unfortunately, though, sometimes the two just don't mix. Instead of just winging it and filling your home with all the greenery your heart desires, it's important to learn what plants are toxic to dogs. The reality is that you can't bet on your dog ignoring your plants (especially puppies), and it's always better to be safe than sorry.
"All plant material has the potential to cause gastrointestinal upset if ingested," explains Dr. Anna Walker, DVM, a veterinarian at the Veterinary Emergency Group in Larkspur, Calif. However, a handful of common houseplants can cause issues like diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration and damage to the kidneys and other organs.
According to Michael Clarke, a horticulture expert and the founder of Yardwork, the main culprits are the insoluble calcium oxalate crystals and saponins found in certain plants. "These compounds act as a defense mechanism for the plants to deter animals from eating them," explains Clarke.
In terms of just how toxic these plants are, that depends on a few things. According to Dr. Liza Cahn, DVM, a veterinarian and consultant at Embrace Pet Insurance, the severity depends on what plant was consumed, how much was ingested and the length of time before you get to the vet. It also depends on the specific breed, size, age and overall health of your dog. No matter what, though, seek help immediately.
"If your pet eats a toxic plant, time is of the essence," explains Cahn. "Contact your vet or an emergency facility immediately. Be sure to take pictures or bring samples of the plant to the vet." It's important to note that sometimes symptoms might appear later, so it's crucial to speak with a medical professional if you think your dog has ingested toxic houseplants, even if they seem fine.
So, what are some of the usual suspects? Dog owners should avoid certain greenery, including snake plants, aloe, pothos and monstera — yes, even though they look so good in your space. And when it comes to flowers, avoid bouquets with lilies, daffodils, azaleas and tulips.
Even though they're an excellent way to naturally purify the air in your home and they look cool with those spindly, indestructible leaves, snake plants are not it when it comes to pets. Why? They can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Yes, it's a healing powerhouse for us, but it's the exact opposite for your dog. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, loss of appetite and lethargy. It can also cause significant distress and dehydration. Yikes, that's a lot. Honestly, just keep it out of your home — and make sure that aloe gel in your fridge stays out of reach.
Don't be fooled by the name and gorgeous looks — a peace lily is anything but peaceful for your dog. It contains insoluble calcium oxalate, which can irritate your dog's mouth and digestive tract. Some symptoms to look out for include excessive drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting and swelling or burning of the mouth and lips, all of which can make it hard for them to breathe.
Unlike the peace lily, it makes sense that a plant like devil's ivy (aka pothos) would be a no-go when it comes to keeping your dog safe. Like the peace lily, though, these plants contain insoluble calcium oxalates that irritate the mouth and GI tract.
While the leaves look pretty cascading out of the planter, the forever-popular philodendron can cause major issues thanks to the insoluble calcium oxalates. Like with other toxic houseplants on this list, keep an eye out for vomiting, mouth and throat swelling, excessive drooling and general oral discomfort.
The iconic and fun Swiss cheese plant is a staple in any and every modern home (especially since it's so easy to take care of). However, this kind of cheese should be kept far away from your dog thanks to, again, the insoluble calcium oxalates, which can irritate the mouth and GI tract, leading to uncomfortable swelling and vomiting.
While all parts of the sago palm are toxic, it's the seeds that are the worst. The seeds (which, according to Walker, tend to be what dogs consume) contain high amounts of cycasin toxin. If ingested, the toxin can cause liver failure and death.
Ingesting any part of the jade plant can lead to vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. And while it's more common in cats, it can also lead to neurological symptoms, including tremors, loss of coordination and depression.
Commonly known as dragon trees and ribbon plants, dracaenas are a great beginner-friendly plant. However, it contains saponins. This can cause bloody vomiting, excessive salivating and depression.
Reminder: If you suspect that your dog has eaten a poisonous plant, contact your veterinarian or take them to the emergency room as soon as possible. If you still have concerns about which plants are safe for your dog-friendly home, take a look at the ASPCA's list of toxic and nontoxic plants. (They also provide lists for cats and horses.)
Don't worry, though, it's not all doom and gloom when it comes to your dog and greenery. There are still a slew of fan-favorite plants out there that are safe for your pups — and they're pretty to boot. Below, find some nontoxic and safe plants for dogs to liven up your space (and a few pretty pots and planters to dress 'em up).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Yahoo
Embrace Pet Insurance review 2025
Embrace rating: 4 out of 5 stars Best for: Discounts for healthy pets Pet owners will appreciate Embrace Pet Insurance for its ample coverage and below-average, competitive costs. Unfortunately, coverage for vet exam fees and prescriptions require buying add-ons, but, in general, Embrace provides wide-ranging coverage features. Embrace also stands out for its Healthy Pet Discount Program, which automatically applies a 5% discount in the first year if your pet's claims are less than $300. There's a 10% discount in the second year for low claims as well as a 10% discount for insuring multiple pets. Learn more: How does pet insurance work? A complete guide. Pros An unlimited annual coverage option is available. Costs are below the average in our analysis. Preexisting conditions are covered if the pet has had no symptoms or treatment for one year. Behavioral therapy and alternative therapy are covered, including hydrotherapy, acupuncture, physiotherapy, therapeutic laser treatment, and chiropractic. Cons There's a six-month waiting period for canine orthopedic problems, but getting an orthopedic exam will reduce it to 14 days. You have to buy add-ons to get coverage for vet exam fees and prescriptions. Prescription food and supplements are not covered. Consider these essential features when comparing pet insurance policies. Annual maximum limit choices: $2,000, $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, Unlimited Deductible choices: $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000 Reimbursement choices: 70%, 80%, 90% For accident coverage: Begins at 12:01 a.m. ET the day after you purchase a policy For illness coverage: 14 days Special waiting period: six months for canine orthopedic conditions, which can be reduced to 14 days with an orthopedic exam Minimum pet age: 6 weeks Maximum pet age: None Embrace Pet Insurance offers extensive coverage under its accident and illness plan. Here are highlights of the coverage in the base policies (without add-ons). The accident and illness policy covers the following conditions (annual limits, reimbursement, and deductible vary based on the coverage you choose): Hereditary and congenital conditions such as cherry eye and Wobbler syndrome Diagnostics such as X-rays and ultrasounds Dental accidents and illnesses Cancer Behavioral therapy Alternative therapy Euthanasia when needed for humane reasons The accident-only plan provides up to $5,000 in reimbursement, has a $100 deductible, and covers accidents such as the following: A torn cruciate ligament Swallowing a foreign body Getting hit by a vehicle Poisoning Cuts and lacerations Prescription medicine for conditions covered by the policy (except in New York) Bloat Embrace's Wellness Rewards program is an optional add-on to its accident and illness policies that functions much like a savings account for routine screenings expenses and preventive pet care. It's not an insurance policy, so there are no deductibles or copayments. You can choose from three benefit amounts: $300, $500, or $700 per year. You can access the funds from day one, but overall, the advantages of using this plan are minimal. Your monthly payments over the year will equal the full benefit amount minus $25 that Wellness Rewards kicks in. You may find that the $25 in savings isn't worth the paperwork, and unused funds don't roll over at the end of the plan year. So if you have $150 left at the end of the year, you lose that money. Embrace's Wellness Rewards plan can be used for the following types of care and doesn't have per-item limits: Routine wellness exams Vaccinations Blood and fecal tests Spaying/neutering Microchipping Routine dental cleaning Grooming Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention Routine gland expression Alternative treatments, nutritional supplements, and prescription pet food Training Cremation and burial Learn more: Your guide to what pet insurance covers Embrace does not cover preexisting conditions. It defines a preexisting condition as 'any injury, illness, or abnormality noticed by you or your veterinarian before your policy started, even if your pet never went to see the vet for it.' However, if your pet has a curable preexisting condition and remains symptom-free and treatment-free for a year, Embrace will cover the condition if it returns. All Embrace policies include access to a 24/7 pet helpline through partner PawSupport. PawSupport's staff can help with making decisions about your pet's care, but cannot diagnose conditions or prescribe medication. Embrace policies won't cover expenses such as: Routine care Preexisting conditions, except curable conditions that have had no symptoms or treatment for a year Alternative treatments Cosmetic procedures such as tail docking and ear cropping Boarding Breeding and pregnancy DNA testing or cloning Organ transplants Natural supplements and vitamins Injury or illness from fighting, racing, cruelty, or neglect Increases: You can increase your coverage, such as increasing the maximum limit or lowering your deductible amount. But waiting periods and preexisting condition rules will reset, much like buying a new policy. Decreases: You can decrease your coverage at any time to lower your premium by increasing your deductible, decreasing your annual maximum limit, or decreasing your reimbursement rate. There's no reset of waiting periods if you decrease coverage. Embrace Pet Insurance is competitively priced with average rates less than average in our analysis. Embrace's policy with $5,000 in annual coverage costs 7% less than the average in our evaluation. For unlimited annual coverage, Embrace Pet Insurance costs 17% less than the average in our evaluation. Yes, Embrace offers a 10% discount if you insure more than one pet. This is comparable with other insurers' multi-pet discounts, which are usually 5% or 10%. No, you must pay your vet and then submit a claim with Embrace. However, if you expect a large bill, you can try asking for a special arrangement ahead of time. Learn more: Pet insurance that pays the vet directly: How does it work? Here's what to know about filing claims with Embrace: To make a claim: You must submit an itemized invoice for your pet's vet visit and a completed claim form when submitting a claim by email, fax, or mail. Reimbursements are paid by check or direct deposit. To submit claims quickly: Log in through the MyEmbrace online customer account, provide the requested information, and upload your invoice. This method doesn't require submitting a claim form. To receive reimbursements faster: Enroll in direct deposit through your online customer account to receive reimbursements within one to two business days after a claim is processed. If your claim is denied: You can appeal the decision. The appeal process will be outlined in your policy document. You must submit claims within 60 days after the end of your policy's term. Embrace processes accident and illness claims within 10 to 15 business days. It processes Wellness Rewards claims within five business days. Claims will be delayed if you do not submit all necessary information. The highly rated Embrace Pet Insurance app makes it easy to manage your policy. You can check your coverage and see remaining limits, submit and view claims, add pets, change coverage, update billing information, and send messages to the claims team. Embrace mobile app ratings: Apple App Store: 4.8 out of 5 stars Google Play Store: 4.6 out of 5 stars Learn more: The best pet insurance companies 2025 Embrace Pet Insurance is available in all states. The Embrace Wellness Rewards program provides reimbursement for vaccinations. You can add the plan to an accident and illness policy. Learn more: Does pet insurance cover vaccines? Your pet must have been examined by a veterinarian within the 12 months before enrolling in an Embrace policy or within the first 14 days of the start of the policy. You can contact Embrace by phone, fax, your online customer account, or the Embrace mobile app. You can call Embrace at 1-855-540-2104 Monday through Friday (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET) and Saturday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET). The fax number is 1-800-238-1042. You can cancel an Embrace Pet Insurance policy at any time by calling 1-800-643-7578. You can receive a full refund if you cancel within 30 days of your policy start date and have not submitted any claims. If you cancel after 30 days of the start of your policy or have submitted claims, you may be eligible for a prorated refund. Prorated refunds are calculated from the day after you cancel to the end of your current billing cycle. Amy Danise and Tim Manni edited this article. We researched the coverage details and prices for 15 pet insurance plans. We then weighted categories, and each pet insurer was scored relative to the others to find the best pet insurance companies. Here are the factors we incorporated. Coverage types: 40% of score. We examined the coverage provided by the base policy without the extra cost of add-ons. This encompassed coverage for alternative therapy, behavioral therapy, dental illness, euthanasia or end-of-life expenses, exotic pets, hereditary and congenital conditions, preexisting conditions, prescription food and supplements, veterinary exam fees, and advertising/reward for lost/stolen pets. Average cost: 30% of score. We evaluated costs in five states for $5,000 and unlimited coverage for a mixed-breed dog (age 1), a French bulldog (age 5), and a Labrador retriever (age 8). Unlimited coverage option: 10% of score. We gave points when pet insurers offered an unlimited annual limit (or a $100,000 limit), which gives pet owners the most robust financial protection possible in the event of a catastrophic pet medical issue. Direct payments to the veterinarian: 5% of score. We gave points to pet insurers that state on their websites that they accommodate direct vet payments. No special waiting periods for special conditions: 5% of score. We gave points when pet insurers have no waiting periods for special conditions, such as cruciate ligament conditions. Routine wellness plan: 5% of score. Companies that offer a routine wellness plan in addition to pet insurance received points. Multi-pet discount: 5% of score. We gave points when pet insurers offered a discount for insuring multiple pets.
Forbes
28-05-2025
- Forbes
Traveling With Pets: Tips To Make It Easy
getty Traveling with pets is not always easy. Small animal veterinarian Dr. Liza Cahn, a consultant for Embrace Pet Insurance, gives tips on how to make the process easier. For both you and your pet. However you plan to travel with your pet, be it by car, train, plain or bus, it's extremely important to prepare ahead of time. There are generally lots of options for finding pet-friendly accomodations. There are several websites dedicated to this. Many hotels and airbnbs also allow pets, although it's important to fully read and understand their pet policy ahead of time, as they may require additional fees or for your pet to be current on specific vaccinations. When in doubt, get in touch directly with the accommodation. While all the tips above apply to flying with pets, a few other considerations include scheduling a direct flight whenever possible and traveling at times that are less busy. It is safest for your pet to fly in the cabin with you, however, there are strict size requirements. The next best option is shipping your pet as manifest cargo. This is safer than sending them as checked baggage, due to stricter handling procedures and temperature control. Always research the airline's policy well ahead of travel. They have requirements ranging from the size and type of crate that is acceptable to what you can put in the crate with your animal. Ideally, you want to include a few comfort items, such as familiar toys and bedding, a small litter box for cats, as well as plenty of fresh water.
Business Wire
06-05-2025
- Business Wire
CATalyst Council Releases First 2025 Market Insights Report: Feline Veterinary Care Emerges as Industry Growth Driver
ANNAPOLIS, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The CATalyst Council, the veterinary industry's leading authority on the feline market, today announced the release of the first volume of the 2025 CATalyst Feline Market Insights Report, a first-of-its-kind data-driven resource offering a comprehensive view into the shifting dynamics of feline healthcare, market behavior, and veterinary trends across the United States. At a time when the broader market headwinds are challenging veterinary medicine, the feline segment is bucking the trend with remarkable, sustained growth. According to proprietary practice data from multiple leading industry sources, feline veterinary visits and practice revenues in the U.S. have been steadily growing since early 2023, in stark contrast to the continuing and well-publicized annual decline in overall companion animal veterinary clinical visits over those same two years. 'We're seeing strong evidence that feline veterinary care is resilient in the face of inflation and other pressures on pet-owning households,' said Kristin Wuhrman, CATalyst Council Vice Chair. 'Driven in part by growing cat ownership, cats present a clear opportunity to prioritize investment in a more modern, data-informed feline care ecosystem.' Key findings include: Feline clinical visits grew year-over-year in 2023 and 2024, while overall visits to veterinary practices in the U.S. (dominated by canine visits) declined, a departure from historical norms; Cats represent a growing percentage of the pet population in U.S. households; Growth in the household-owned feline population has continued at an elevated level since the onset of the pandemic, suggesting cat companionship is highly valued in the current environment; The return-to-office movement and denser urban living of today's world favor cat ownership; The report's novel, feline-specific analysis reveals new opportunities to address unmet needs in feline care, particularly around caregiver engagement, preventive care, and practice-level service models; and Leading pet industry companies are prioritizing investment in M&A, product pipelines, and retail strategies to reflect these trends. Supported by aggregated data from U.S. veterinary practices and pet owners, and across multiple sources, CATalyst Council's Market Insights initiative aims to equip the profession with a deep understanding of the feline veterinary market's trajectory. The data-driven analysis uncovered in this first quarterly volume is essential for industry executives, investors, veterinary teams, and innovators seeking to identify whitespace, prioritize strategic investments, and drive better outcomes for cats and their caregivers alike. 'Cats are quite different than dogs. Their psychological and medical care needs are distinct, and their market trajectories are increasingly divergent,' said Anne Ward, DVM, CATalyst Council Chair. 'This report gives the industry the market data needed to act decisively and strategically drive growth, supporting a healthier future for millions of cats and the caregivers who love them.' The 2025 CATalyst Feline Market Insights Reports, expected to be released quarterly, are available exclusively to CATalyst Council sponsors. The Council will release high-level conclusions from the reports throughout the year through press releases and LinkedIn, designed to engage veterinary professionals, industry stakeholders, and decision-makers with digestible, evidence-based content. To receive updates or inquire about the benefits of sponsorship, please visit About CATalyst Council CATalyst Council is a national organization dedicated to accelerating innovation in feline care and enhancing quality of life for cats and their people. CATalyst Council's vision is to ensure all companion cats receive lifelong care by using evidence-based resources, embracing community-wide relationships for optimal health outcomes, and celebrating the human-feline bond.
