News Column
Robin Trott
Douglas County Extension Service
(320) 762-3890

December 15, 2009

Growing Green
with Extension Educator Robin Trott

Pet Safe House Plants

Each year at this time, I get questions about whether Christmas plants are safe for pets. The most persistent myth is that poinsettias are toxic. This bit of misinformation dates back to 1919, when the death of an army officer's two-year-old child was wrongly blamed on ingesting Poinsettia leaves. Studies have found that, although eating a poinsettia might cause stomach ache, there are no serious side effects connected to eating any part of the poinsettia plant. However, there are many common houseplants that are toxic to pets. If you have any of the following in a household with children or pets, please consider substituting them for safer varieties of plants:

Dieffenbachia, Philodendron, and Pathos plants are all toxic to dogs and cats. Ingesting these plants can trigger intense burning and irritation of the mouth, tongue and lips, and can cause difficulty swallowing.

Cyclamen tubers are toxic to cats and dogs, and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, heart rhythm abnormalities, seizures and death.

Ingesting Norfolk Island Pine can cause vomiting and depression in cats and dogs.

Contact with Weeping Fig can cause dermatitis; ingestion can cause oral irritation, salivation and vomiting.

If you have a house plant that is not included on this list, look for these standard signs that can help you identify potentially poisonous plants.

Milky sap Naturally shiny leaves Plants that have yellow or white berries Umbrella shaped plants

Remember, this list will not eliminate all toxic house plants, but will help steer you clear of a great many of them. If you are an indoor gardener and pet owner, please consider selecting a non-toxic plant from the following list: African Violet, Boston fern, Cast iron plant, China Doll, Christmas Cactus, Coleus, Dracaena, Orchids, Pink polka-dot plant, Prayer Plant, Spider plant, Ti plant, and Yucca.

Keeping your house free of toxic house plants is important for the health and safety of your cats and dogs. For more information about indoor and outdoor plants that are toxic to your four-legged loved ones, please visit the ASPCA website: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/index.jsp?plant_toxicity.

Wishing you a safe and jolly holiday season! I'm headed for the eggnog.

“No amount of time can erase the memory of a good cat, and no amount of masking tape can ever totally remove his fur from your couch. ”

- Leo Dworken

 

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