An Unsuspecting Salad
We all heard the saying that salads and greens in general are great for your health, but what about our furry friends? In truth, only some greens are beneficial to your pup but that is actually not what we are going to be talking about today. Crazy right?
So what’s the topic?
I’m glad you asked! First, let’s make it clear that we are not going to be talking about which types of vegetables and salads are beneficial to your pup. More specifically, we are going to be talking about how household plants can negatively affect your dog’s health. Yep! You heard -or more like read- it right!
Disclaimer: This topic idea was not originally ours. One of our kind viewers recommended me to write about this as a potential blog topic and so can you! Simply go to the contact page of the website and type up a little message. We love to see the ideas that the community comes up with! :)
What makes household plants harmful to my pup?
Although house plants can liven up your room, some can harm your pup’s health. And while house plants can render your pup ill or injured, some species of plants can even prove to be fatal. A few ways that plants can harm your pup is if they are poisonous, have thorns, and/or secretes harmful sap that can irritate the skin. For these reasons, it is a must to be aware of the potential risks you may be bringing into your home.
Why does my pup like munching on some greens?
It all comes down to the dog and the plant. “What do you mean?” you may ask. Because our pets have the natural instinct and the curiosity to use their mouths to sense, feel, and taste (especially when anxious or hungry), they may turn to your -potentially poisonous- house plant as a way to vent their emotions or to eat as a (hopefully) tasty snack. If you are having trouble relating to this, you can think of it kind of like stress eating or just being plain hungry! In that perspective, I guess you can’t really blame them for chewing on our favorite plants.
How exactly can my houseplant harm my pooch?
Knowing why our pups would feel inclined to take a bite out of your potentially harmful leafy greens, we can now talk about how a houseplant can harm your pup in greater detail. Some plants can contain toxins that can cause diarrhea and vomiting when chewed on such as the famous Aloe Vera plant. Others can have leaves that contain tiny, sharp calcium oxalate crystals that can irritate the dog’s mouth and cause severe swelling and burning of the mouth and tongue. Sometimes irritations can lead to difficulty breathing and even death (although this is rare).
But what if… (Part I)
I am not sure if this is a very widespread piece of knowledge but did you hear that dogs -when not feeling well- will often munch on some greens?
Believe it or not, dogs are actually omnivores (crazy right?!). Whenever wild dogs are hungry and there is a limited amount of food (meat), their natural instinct is to fill up their stomachs with greens. These greens will not enrich your pup’s diet by a huge margin other than greens being high in fiber which is beneficial for your dog’s digestive system. Fiber is great for the digestive tract as it is often fermented into fatty acids by the “good” bacteria naturally residing in the intestine. And the reason behind why fatty acids are so great for your pooch’s health is because it helps to prevent the overgrowth of “bad” bacteria and helps the colon repair itself quicker. Diets rich in fiber can also help the individual lose weight and is a commonly used treatment method for obese dogs just to name a few. However, when it comes to harmful houseplants, the cons outweighs the pros.
But what if… (Part II)
Returning back to the subject of, “dogs -when not feeling well- will often munch on some greens”, it is important to not only avoid purchasing potentially harmful houseplants, but to also recognize the signs when your dog might be feeling unwell. When a dog has an upset stomach, they consume leaves and grass as a way to make themselves vomit and to get rid of whatever is causing them pain. However, if eaten in large quantities, it can cause a blockage. This holds to be especially true for puppies.
Even eating leaves and grass on a walk can be risky as well because it could have been sprayed with pesticides or other harmful chemicals.
What if I want to have houseplants?
We all love to have some greenery in our house to liven it up. But if you are concerned if your dog does decide to munch on your favorite household plants, don’t fret because they are certainly some awesome, let-alone safer alternatives! If you are looking for a pet-friendly, cool looking plant, some plants you can try to add to your home are the Areca Palm, African Violet, Cape Marigold, Money Tree, Boston Fern, Cast Iron Plant, Spider Plant, Baby Tears, Bamboo Palm, Burro’s Tail/Donkey Tail Succulent, Orchid, Bromeliad, Hawthoria, Peperomia Green, Prayer Plant, Swedish Ivy/Creeping Charlie, Pony Tail Palm, Polka Dot Plant, Xerographica Air Plant, Staghorn Fern, Parlor Palm, Christmas Cactus, Purple Velvet Plant, and Calathea Rattlesnake. All plants listed are ASPCA approved!
[Note: some of the plants listed can cause gastrointestinal upset if consumed regularly but the plants listed above are much safer bets than others!]
Did you happen to know about this topic pertaining to household plants and the consequences having one in your house may bring? I will be honest, I did not know about this being a problem until one of our readers brought this up as a potential blog topic. So if you were like me and did not know about this, don’t worry!
With that said, thank you to all of our viewers for taking the time to read through our blogs. Stay safe and we will see you next time! :)
Citations:
[1] “25 Gorgeous Houseplants That Are Safe for Cats and Dogs [ASPCA Approved].” Typically Topical, 28 June 2021, https://typicallytopical.com/pet-friendly-house-plants/.
[2] “Are Your Houseplants Pet Friendly?” Tatura Vet Clinic VIC, 17 Feb. 2021, https://tatvet.com.au/pet-library/are-your-houseplants-pet-friendly.
[3] Finlay, Katie. “Benefits of High-Fiber Dog Foods.” American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, 17 July 2020, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/benefits-high-fiber-dog-foods/#:~:text=Aiding%20in%20Digestion,the%20colon%20recover%20from%20injury.
[4] McAndrews, Mary Beth. “Does Your Dog Eat Leaves? Tips to Stop Dogs from Feasting on Foliage.” American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, 11 May 2020, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/advice/why-does-my-dog-eat-leaves/.
[5] “Poisonous Plants.” ASPCA, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants.
[6] Williams, Amanda. “Signs to Watch for in Dogs after Eating a Poisonous Plant.” Dog Care - Daily Puppy, 20 Nov. 2021, https://dogcare.dailypuppy.com/signs-watch-dogs-after-eating-poisonous-plant-5087.html.