As a great lover of animals and green plants, the question arose about the danger of the latter, especially since Norman, my cat, loved chewing on them more than anything. Plants in an interior, in addition to having a calming side, have a significant depolluting and air purifying side. It would be a shame to deprive ourselves of something that is healthy for our body and mind, because our cats and dogs cannot resist the temptation to chew them. However, it is out of the question to make them take the risk of poisoning which could even be fatal depending on the plants ingested.
So I'm going to list here the most toxic common plants and those that you can safely integrate into your home. Please note that this list is not exhaustive, if you are a passionate amateur and you bring back exotic and rare plants, it is possible that they are not part of this list without being harmless. Always check for yourself on the internet or with specialists in case of doubt.
The most toxic plants for dogs and cats:
First of all, those that are customary to offer or receive during the holidays.
Mistletoe (Berries - Irritation of the oral mucosa and digestive tract / hypersalivation / vomiting / diarrhea / hypotension / nervous disorders)
Holly (Berries - Irritation of the oral mucosa and digestive tract / hypersalivation / vomiting / diarrhea / nervous disorders)
Lily of the valley (Leaves / sprigs / bells - Irritation of the oral mucosa and digestive tract / hypersalivation / vomiting / diarrhea / nervous disorders / heart disorders)
Poinsettia (Leaves - Irritation of the oral mucosa and digestive tract / hypersalivation / vomiting / diarrhea / skin disorders / nervous disorders / hyperthermia / anorexia / dehydration)
Now let's look at indoor plants in general:
High danger:
Alocasia
Aloe vera
Amaryllis
Jade tree (Crassula ovata)
Arum
Avocado (pit and leaves)
Lucky bamboo
Begonias
Cactus
Caladium
Colocasia
Cycas
Cyclamen
Dieffenbachia
Dracaena
If (The whole plant)
Kalanchoe (Stems / Leaves / Flowers)
Ivy
Monstera
Philodendrons
Xanthosoma
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas)
Love apple tree
Medium risk
Aglaonema
Ficus
Pothos
Sansevieria
Schefflera
Yuca
Generally speaking, if your dogs or cats are the type to be "gluttonous" of plants or the type to be destructive with your plants, do not take any risks, check on the internet the toxicity of each of your plants and put those that are dangerous in a place or room inaccessible to your animals. If you do not find anything on the internet concerning the toxicity of your plant specimen, again, do not take any risks and put it in an inaccessible place. If it is impossible for you to put your plant in a place that cannot be reached by your animals, offer it for safekeeping or offer it to friends who do not have animals, neighbors, or give it away on a forum / plant exchange group. The life of your animals is priceless!
Plants without risk for our animals:
Aspidistra elatior
Banana tree
Bromelia
Calathea
Chlorophytum
Ferns
Pachira
Pilea peperomioides ("Chinese coin")
If, despite all your precautions, your animal ingests a toxic plant, immediately call a veterinary poison control center.
And urgently go to your nearest veterinarian. We are dealing here with indoor plants but you have to be just as careful with outdoor plants. Some that are quite common in the south of France like the Oleander, are extremely toxic. Likewise, do not give your dog a piece of fresh wood from a tree species you do not know to chew on.
Even if our animals have often kept a part of instinct that allows them to avoid poisoning themselves, as is the case for most cats that go outside, their instinct is not infallible and it is better to take precautions and avoid the risk of poisoning them.
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