Ten pet-unfriendly houseplants
Oleander (nerium oleander): Pink-flowered and fragrant, this shrub can cause serious illness or even death if ingested.
Lilies (lilium): Highly toxic to cats and can cause organ failure. Be careful of bouquets containing them too.
Philodendrons: Toxic for cats and dogs if consumed, causing swelling of the mouth and vomiting. Monstera deliciosa: The popular ‘‘Swiss Cheese’’ plant can cause intense burning and mouth irritation in pets.
Aloe vera: This succulent has a mild-to-moderate toxicity level for dogs and cats. It can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and tremors if eaten.
Snake plants (dracaena trifasciata): Can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea if ingested. Ficus: Including the ever-popular fiddle leaf fig and rubber tree, can cause oral irritation, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing if consumed.
Jade plants (crassula ovata): These ‘‘money plants’’ can cause vomiting, depression and incoordination if consumed. Madagascar dragon tree (dracaena marginata): This plant contains saponins – a toxic compound that can make pets sick. If ingested, it can cause vomiting (sometimes with blood) and drooling in cats and dogs. Cats can also suffer from dilated pupils if they’ve nibbled on a dragon tree. Yucca, a similar-looking tree, also contain saponins.
Sago palm (cycas revoluta):
Can be lethally poisonous to dogs due to a toxin called cycasin. This causes abdominal pain, seizures, coma and liver failure. In
Australia, one of the
Animal Poisons
Helpline’s most reported dog poisonings.