Are your plants pet friendly?

Plants make our homes a more welcoming and healthy environment, but care must be taken if you have pets at home .

Dogs and cats are very curious animals and love to nibble, for this reason it is necessary to understand which non-toxic plants are suitable for our four-legged friends .

There are about fifty plants that can cause serious consequences for our animals. According to the CAV of Milan, poisoning from plants represents 7% of cases and the species most often implicated are: cycas, oleander, hydrangea, poinsettia, narcissus, lily, castor, ivy and phytolacca.

Our pets often taste houseplants with the aim of supplementing their diet thanks to the fibers contained in vegetables or simply out of boredom.

How can we make coexistence between animals and plants safer?

If we are nature lovers and don't want to deprive ourselves of a healthy coexistence between animals and plants, we need to know the plants we keep at home well. Therefore, knowing the botanical name of our plants and their possible toxicity will make it easier to intervene in the event of accidental contact or ingestion.

We therefore advise first of all to consult the list drawn up by the ASPCA and to identify if we have potentially dangerous plants in the house.

Another useful tip to keep at least our less agile animals out of harm's way would be to place plants in hard-to-reach spots. Avoiding the classic floor vases by using our plant paintings would therefore turn out to be a valid alternative to remove any scruple.

For the liveliest animals and the most scrupulous owners, we have also created an entirely pet-friendly composition with plants that smile at our dogs and cats and at our homes.

Vertical plants to keep an eye on.

With the help of a brochure published by Dr. Francesca Assisi for the Poison Control Center of Milan , we want to mention some of the plants potentially toxic to animals most used in our compositions, their possible symptoms and treatments.

Anthurium , spathiphyllum, monstera , ficus , philodendron , scadens and ivy helix belonging to the araceae family, contain insoluble calcium oxalates and, when ingested, cause symptoms affecting the oral mucosa. They create a burning sensation in the mouth, with inflammation and possible local swelling, difficulty swallowing and in the most severe cases even breathing. In case of ingestion they can also cause gastrointestinal symptoms.

In case of ingestion or contact with the oral mucosa, a mucosal protector should be administered. In case of edema, however, the vet will administer cortisone.

In asparagus , in dracaena , the toxic agent is saponin, a chemical compound present in the berries which, if ingested, can cause vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain, excessive drooling which in the long run can lead to dehydration. Another symptom can be that of dermatitis if there is contact with the skin.

Also beware of some varieties of Tradescantia , where the presence of sitting peritromaline can cause vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite for a few days.

Finally, let's add to this short list the Poinsettia , a must-have during the Christmas holidays in our homes and in our compositions. Its scientific name is Euphorbia pulcherrima, also known as poinsettia, and it contains a white latex consisting of triterpene and calcium oxalates in the leaves and stems.

The whole plant is toxic and causes irritation of the oral cavity, swelling of the tongue, increased salivation and possible difficulty in breathing due to swelling in the throat. If ingested it causes vomiting and diarrhea.

In small quantities it is sufficient to administer a protector of the mucous membrane.

In addition to the positioning and knowledge of the plants, the last advice, as well as a good practice, is to contact a veterinarian if any of the symptoms listed should present or if you have doubts about the health of your pets.