Safe green

09-09-2022

Houseplants and flowers in a vase are real mood makers for the home. They are said to have a positive effect on our mood, purify the air and help with a good night's sleep. We think they are especially beautiful. However, as cat and dog parents, we are very critical about which greenery we bring into the house. There are more than 700 (!) species that are poisonous to dogs and/or cats. Think of lilies, tulips, daffodils, hydrangea and mistletoe. Now the list is too long to mention them all, so in this article we will mainly talk about which flowers and plants are safe for our best friends.

When we moved to our current apartment, there was a grapevine in the garden. Beautiful green leaves and the little grapes were growing abundantly. Because of our pets, we decided to remove it all. Fortunately, the landlord was able to branch out the root and the grapevine is now flourishing in her garden.
A bit drastic perhaps, but if you've read our blog ' What a dog absolutely can't eat ', you know that grapes are extremely poisonous to dogs and cats too. Now Stitch has never really shown any interest in flowers or plants, except for grass. Our four cats, on the other hand, are practically rodents when it comes to anything green. A jar of cat grass is therefore consumed within half an hour 🙄.

Even if your buddy lets your plants grow beautifully, it is useful to know which greenery is safe for our pets.

These houseplants, among others, are safe:

  • Aspidistra elatior (quarter plant);
  • All Calathea species;
  • Boston fern (Pteropsida);
  • Spider plant (not to be confused with Lilies, which are extremely poisonous!);
  • pancake plant;
  • Banana plant;
  • Phalaenopsis orchid;
  • Bedroom happiness (Soleirolia soleirolii)
  • Cat grass (also safe for dogs!).


Safe flowers:

  • Sunflower;
  • Rose (but beware of the thorns!);
  • Gerbera;
  • Large snapdragon;
  • Freesia;
  • Lisianthus.


The garden
Herbs are a great way to brighten up your garden. These below are safe for our animals and also tasty for us:

  • Parsley;
  • Basil;
  • Coriander;
  • Dill;
  • Rosemary;
  • Sage;
  • Thyme
  • Lemon balm.


Your pet is not meant to nibble on your herb garden all day. Too much consumption can lead to excessive vomiting, stomach pain or skin rashes (especially with parsley). And for our own consumption, it's nice if they can't do their business in it 💩

NB Avoid the poisonous garlic (Allium) family, such as chives, leek, onion, garlic and shallot!

Safe garden plants:

  • Summer aster (Callistephus chinensis);
  • Tricolor violet (Viola tricolor var. hortensis);
  • Satin flower/Cape marigold (Dimorphotheca pluvialis);
  • Japanese Rose (Camellia japonica);
  • Bell plant (Fuchsia triphylla);
  • Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata);
  • Nasturtium/Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus);
  • Zinnia;
  • Bamboo.


Other tips to consider in your garden:

  • Almost all flower bulbs are poisonous to pets. And even if they are in the ground, your cat or dog can easily dig them out;
  • Cocoa shells are sometimes used as ground cover and to control weeds. But the shells of the cocoa bean also contain the substance theobromine which is extremely dangerous for our four-legged friends;
  • Thorns and prickles from plants, flowers or hedges can cause damage, especially if they are at eye level of your pet;
  • Use animal and environmentally friendly fertilizers, plant food and weed killers;
  • You don't want snails in your garden, because they can damage your plants. They can also transmit lungworms to your animal. However, combat them in an animal-friendly way and without chemicals (also poisonous). By the way, they don't like sage, thyme, nasturtium and ferns 👍.


You can decorate your own home or garden with greenery, so you don't have to worry about it being harmful to your best friend. But outside it gets a bit tricky. In the forest, park or at other people's homes, there may be plants that your dog can come into contact with.
Eating or chewing on certain flowers/plants can be harmful or even fatal. They can also cause skin problems such as rashes or swellings on the mouth, tongue or gums. Or when in contact with the giant hogweed, cause burns.
What other symptoms are associated with poisoning?

Symptoms (in cats and dogs):

  • Drooling;
  • No appetite;
  • Sluggish, low energy;
  • Vomiting or diarrhea (check for green residues);
  • Blood in the stool;
  • Drinking and urinating much more;
  • Rash and/or red skin;
  • Mouth ulcers;
  • Pale gums;
  • Muscle twitches or seizures;
  • Sink through the legs;
  • Difficulty breathing.


Contact your vet immediately and report that your pet has (possibly) eaten a poisonous plant or flower.
NB Not every animal reacts the same and the amount they ingest also plays a role. Dogs can go several days without food without acute problems, provided they drink enough. In cats this period is much shorter (1-2 days), because otherwise liver damage can occur.

Other tips

  • When buying, choose plants without (chemical) pesticides. This is especially important for cat grass;
  • Now, with safe plants and flowers, consuming them will not poison your buddy. But eating them excessively can, as I mentioned before, lead to excessive vomiting and stomach problems. So try to limit this. Also with cat grass or catnip. Rather give them a little bit each time as a treat;
  • Cats are strange animals... We now have 5 water bowls in our house, but Damian prefers to drink from our water glass 😝 He has also tried to drink the water from a vase. However, the bags of food that you get with a bouquet can be harmful to your cat. So vases are always out of reach at our place;
  • In addition to consuming plants, they can also cause problems for your pet in another way. Namely via the pollen. Some people are (over)sensitive to the pollen, especially in the spring when they float through the air in abundance. You notice it by shaking your head, secretion in the eyes, scratching and sneezing. The spring herb Scutellaria baicalensis, also called skullcap, soothes the airways and has a calming effect. You can find this herb in the natural supplement Scutellaria Tincture of the Green Ox. You can use it for this hypersensitivity or when your dog or cat suffers from itchy skin. Want to know more? Click here .


Finally
Now this article is not meant to throw away all your 'unsafe' plants. Especially not when your pet has no interest in them at all. And you know your best friend best. It is important to be able to recognize the signs of poisoning and to keep in mind that your animal cannot tell the difference between a poisonous or non-poisonous plant/flower.
We eventually decided to play it safe and made almost all of our plants inaccessible, by hanging them in a hanging pot from the ceiling or putting them on top of a cupboard. Especially the plants that look very appetizing to our 4 rodents. Even if they are safe, I still don't feel like cleaning up all day 🤮.
Now to buy a nice replacement for the vine...

So brighten up your home with greenery, but choose safe greenery 🐶😺

Source:
https://www.petmd.com/dog/wellness/grow-fresh-air-plants-are-safe-cats-and-dogs
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/plants-poisonous-to-dogs
https://www.animaltrust.org.uk/blog/pet-friendly-garden/
https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/all-pets/poisonous-plants
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list

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