Houseplants and essential oils your dog should dodge
As a dog parent, you know your fur baby’s sniffing snout will find its way to anything of interest around your home. And that includes your other babies… of the leafy variety. Your houseplants.
But did you know, some plants can be harmful to your hound?
In fact, many plants – and essential oils – are terribly toxic to dogs.
So to avoid a trip to the dog-tor (or vet), we’ve taken the duty to share our guide to living with plants and pups – in peace.
Indoor plants: The good and the bad
You might be looking around with worry, wondering, ‘Are any of my plants poisonous to my dog?’.
Maybe. But you’re about to know for sure. So get ready to say goodbye to ones that are of Great Dane-ger. (Or if they’re dog-friendly, take a huge sigh of re-leaf.)
Poisonous plants for dogs
From the disagreeable to the downright deadly, the most common poisonous plants for pups include:
- Aloe Vera
- Amaryllis
- Arrowhead Vine
- Azalea
- Bird of Paradise
- Cherry
- Chinese Evergreen
- Corn Plant
- Daffodil
- Daphne
- Dragon Tree
- Iris
- Jasmine
- Lily of the Valley
- Mayapple
- Mistletoe
- Monkshood
- Moonseed
- Nightshade
- Oak Tree
- Rhododendrons
- Rhubarb
- Tulip
- Wisteria
- Yew
You can check out Agriculture Victoria for a full list of toxic plants to dogs.
Safe plants for dogs
There are still a few diamonds in the ruff. So if you’re looking for some greenery to liven up your space, here are some of the best for house and hound:
- African Violet
- American Rubber Plant
- Baby Tears
- Banana Leaves
- Boston Fern
- Brid’s Nest Fern
- Bromeliad
- Calathea Zebra
- Cast Iron Plant
- Chinese Monkey Plant
- Friendship Plant
- Gloxinia
- Impatiens
- Majesty Palm
- Mosaic Plant
- Orchid
- Parlour/Areca Palm
- Peperomia
- Polka Dot Plant
- Ponytail Palm
- Purple Waffle Plant
- Roses
- Royal Velvet Plant
- Spider Plant
- Staghorn Fern
- Sunflowers
- Venus Fly Trap
Sniff around ASPCA for a full list of safe plants for dogs.
What if my dog eats a poisonous plant?
If your dog eats a dangerous delicacy, you’ll need to go straight to your vet.
During the appointment, offer them as much information as possible. (Or even better, jump on the phone before you arrive.)
What type of plant was it? When did your dog ingest the plant? How much of the plant did your dog eat?
Your vet will take it from there. And you can rest assured that your bestie will be in the best hands possible.
Remember: Stay calm. Our dogs can pick up on our fear, making them anxious. And a racing heart spreads toxins quicker. So even though it can be scary, try to act cool.
How to stop your dog from eating your safe plants
Even if your house is a safe plant jungle, we imagine you’d still prefer your precious plants to stay off the menu when your mutt has the munchies.
And while there’s no quick fix, with regular training you can teach your dog to respect your boundaries – and bromeliads!
But if your dog still frolics near the foliage, the next step is to redesign your space to make your plants harder to reach.
With any luck, your pup will roll over and find something else to snack on.
If neither of these options work, then it’s time to bring out the big (spray) guns. Repellents and deterrents can work wonders to train your dog about where they can and can’t go.
Whether it’s applying a repellent around your plant, setting up a sensor water spray or structuring a sound system that turns their ears away – there are plenty of options to keep your dog far from your plants.
Are essential oils safe for dogs?
Essential oils are drawn from plants – meaning there are also many ominous oils on the market that could harm your hound. It’s important to know when diffusing could be dangerous.
So here are the most common safe and unsafe oils for dogs:
Safe essential oils for dogs
- Australian Sandalwood
- Cedarwood
- Chamomile
- Frankincense
- Geranium
- Ginger
- Lavender
- Myrrh
- Rosemary
Unsafe essential oils for dog
- Cinnamon
- Citrus
- Eucalyptus
- Pennyroyal
- Peppermint
- Pine
- Sweet Birch
- Tea Tree
- Wintergreen
- Ylang-ylang
What if my dog consumes an essential oil?
It’s the same as plants: If it’s on the unsafe list, take them to the vet as soon as possible.
But safe oils? They have a similar effect on your pup as they do on you. So if your pooch needs to relax, a few drops of any of these will help calm your canine – and offer a multitude of other health benefits!
But as a rule of paw:
- Diffuse for no longer than 3 hours at a time
- Keep within the recommended drop count
- Diffuse in a well-ventilated space.
With this guide on houseplants and essential oils, you and your pup can now be at one with nature – thriving in both health and wellbeing!
Have any other questions about looking out for your dog? Check out our blog for more dog-caring articles!