Pet Safety: Are Houseplants Good to Have in the Household?
We all know that cats and dogs love to dig around in the garden — biting away at the grass, scratching at trees, and even nibbling on different plants. Because of this, when pet parents add greenery into their homes, it is a must to consider if it could be toxic to our fur-babies, even if it looks seemingly harmless.
That said, the right houseplants are a great addition to the household. Besides adding a sense of peace and aesthetics to your home, they possess functional purposes for pet owners and pets alike too!
Benefits of houseplants
Some plants are a natural air purifier, providing more oxygen so that both animal and human bodily functions perform better. Certain plants also promote better humidity, which results in softer skin, lesser dandruff on furkids, and ensures clean, healthy airways for both human and pet!
Here are a few pet-friendly plants that are lovely, beneficial additions to your home:
- Bamboo sprouts
- Spider plants
- Money trees
- Hibiscus
- Herbs like sage, rosemary, dill, and basil
- Boston ferns
- Staghorn fern
- Prayer plant, also known as the Maranta plant
- Cat grass
- ‘Blue Bird’ Echeveria succulent
- Ponytail palm
(Note: This is not an exhaustive list.)
Which houseplants are toxic for pets?
When a pet comes into contact with certain grasses, plants, and pollens, they might have an allergic reaction. In extreme cases, the digestion of toxic plants can be fatal to a pet’s health without the appropriate treatment from an experienced vets in Singapore.
One such plant is the arrowhead. Unassuming and harmless to humans, fully grown arrowhead plants will shed their leaves and may lead to side effects like vomiting, an upset stomach, and irritated skin when ingested by pets. Besides arrowhead, here is a list of toxic plants that you should avoid, along with their respective consequences!
However, if you really do wish to display some of the plants in this list at home, you may do so — just make sure that they are out of reach from your cats and dogs, and keep a close eye on your pet for any signs of discomfort!
