Which Plants Are Harmful to Animals?

Taking care of pets is similar to taking care of babies. Just like you’d babyproof your house for a crawling toddler, you need to do the same for your pets.

One common oversight made by pet parents is forgetting that there are quite a few plants that are harmful to the animals and can cause them various health problems; some can even kill them. Not only do you need to remove all such plants from your homes, but you also need to watch them like a hawk during every walk.

For your ease, we are listing down some of the most common plants that are harmful to the animals:

English Ivy

English ivy has many names. You might know it by glacier ivy or California ivy, or perhaps as sweetheart ivy. Whatever you might call it, remember, this plant contains triterpenoid saponins. This compound isextremely harmful to animals and, if ingested, can result in hypersalivation, diarrhea, stomachache, and vomiting.

Milkweed

Milkweed is a very common plant and favored by many people for its pleasant look. Their common existence is what makes them one of the most dangerous plants for walking dogs. Milkweed is toxic to dogs and causes diarrhea and vomiting. In some cases, ingestion can also lead to difficulty in breathing, dilated pupils, kidney failure, liver failure, and death.

Aloe Vera

Just as useful as Aloe Vera is for humans, it is not quite the same for our innocent pets. It is poisonous to both cats and dogs, and we think it is wise to keep it from other animals as well. Ingesting Aloe Vera can cause depression, anxiety, vomiting, tremors, and diarrhea in pets. Poisoning is a rare occurrence, and if medical attention is given immediately, the pets have a good chance of survival.

Lily

Lily is an extremely common plant and a favorite of many. There are several types of lilies, and some of them are mildly toxic to animals, whereas others are downright fatal. Tiger lilies, Daylilies, Easter lilies, Asiatic lilies, and Japanese Show lilies are the poisonous kinds.  

Science hasn’t been able to comprehend what makes lilies so toxic to animals yet, but even a small part of it can cause kidney failure within 2-3 days. Cats are slightly more vulnerable to lily poisoning than dogs, so be very careful with lilies around your pet animals.

We understand that both cats and dogs are curious about plants and like to nibble on them frequently. So, it’s best to avoid growing harmful varieties in your home. Should you need any of them for health purposes, get them in the form of pure herbal tinctures and capsules from Secrets of the Tribe.

We even have a generous supply of tinctures for specific health concerns of your pets. If you are not a fan of medicines for your dogs, you can give them a try.