Don’t panic if you catch your pet chewing on one of your houseplants. Wash out your pet’s mouth as most of the plants can cause mouth irritations. If your pet is vomiting or shows signs of distress call your vet. Collect any vomit your pet expels if possible. Give your vet as much information about the type of plant, amount ingested and the ingested parts (roots, bulbs, or leaves). It is a good idea to take a leaf from the plant to your vet.
If your pet isn’t exhibiting symptoms, check with the ASPCA Poison Control Center to help you evaluate the situation. The information will help you decide if a trip to the vet is needed or a simple home remedy will suffice. Dogs or cats who ingest “toxic” plants and have survived have done so because their owners took appropriate steps and sought medical help.
We can all live happily with our pets and our houseplants. We simply need to know our plants and how they can affect our dogs or cats. Some plants only cause mild irritation if eaten or chewed, while others can cause major illness and death. Take a few minutes to get to know your houseplants. By doing this you may save a life or least some irritation.