Spring Planting Safely With Your Four-legged Friends
Spring planting means planning.
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Keeping the pets safe
One of my favorite hobbies is playing in the yard, not just with the dogs. I love plants, especially the flowering varieties. I adore almost everything green in nature as much as my dogs Bourbon, Malibu, Max, and Maze do, which is precisely why I have to do my homework before planting. Whether I’m thinking of adding a splash of color here and there to brighten things up in the dreary, overcast winter months or considering how to incorporate a butterfly garden in my already heavily planted backyard, I must plan. It’s more than selecting a location that will meet the plant’s sunlight requirements or soil needs. I have to consider that one of my four dogs might take a bite out of something. What happens after that?
My four-legged friends will trample every stalk and every bud their paws land on. That’s a given, which is another reason I put up barricades and decorative fencing to keep them out. They are as curious about the frilly flowers opening their sleepy buds as you and I are. They love a good stalk to gnaw on like bone. New additions to the environment are no exception. They will happily destroy everything in their path and eat it if I let them.
Only yesterday, I put up a three-foot fence to keep the dogs out of the spot in my yard where the banana plants come up in the spring. Malibu and Maze mowed them down before the freeze. The two of them are a couple of bulldozers when they play. I need to know if the plants are pet-friendly. Are they toxic? What will happen if they ingest the plant or rub against it? While the banana plants are not poisonous, their long fibrous strands may cause an upset stomach or blockage if the dogs eat enough of the plant. It is essential to know precisely what you are planting and how it can affect your dog, even if he has an iron stomach.
Unsafe plants are easily overlooked. Half the town is split between the local garden centers and the nursery at the first sign of spring in south Louisiana. People you haven’t seen in a couple of months are coming out of hibernation, loading up carts full of plants and mulch. It’s as if a town meeting were called.
Masses of baby gem boxwoods, papery pink azaleas, and the leathery-looking leaves of crimson begonias beckon from the outdoor shelving, part of the garden center’s preview. All of them commonly used in landscaping are toxic to our four-legged friends.
The list of toxic plants is overwhelming. When I moved into my house five years ago, most of the landscaping was toxic to dogs and cats. At the time, my dogs had zero interest in the row of boxwoods and the azaleas. It was my dream yard, and then Bourbon, Maze, and Malibu entered the picture. The dogs found me as it was with two of the cats, Kid and Sophia. My only adopted pet was Mimi, a cat whose kittens were adopted months before I found her in the local Petco.
As for my yard full of toxic plants, I could have followed the suggestions of friends and family, getting rid of the plants or re-homing the dogs, but I chose differently. I kept everyone and upped my guard around the backyard with my new companions. I followed everyone around before fencing in most of the plants. The dogs played under my supervision and still do, mainly on the semi-enclosed patio with a gate.
The good news is the dogs learned a new word. Their vocabulary expanded to include the word, no, mainly for their protection. I stocked up on chew toys, balls, and ropes for them to play fetch and tug-of-war. Malibu, who needs frequent redirection, has learned to play well with her older sister, Maze. Left on their own, I have no doubt they would dig up and devour every plant possible. Recently, I’ve added costly decorative fencing, a God-send, and a wonderful present to pet parents drawn to mother nature’s colorful delights as much as their dogs.
You might wonder how I keep my jungle growing outside my back door with four dogs. As of now, I’m only looking to add pet-safe plants. At first, I thought my choices were limited, but I found out I was wrong. I went to my local Louisiana Nursery yesterday and found some plants I’ve had on my list to buy for a few years now. Both are safe for pets and easy to grow in my region. Pineapple Guava makes beautiful flowers and fruit. I’ve considered digging up a couple of the boxwoods that aren’t doing so well in the part of my yard and planting the pineapple guava instead. They’ll tolerate wet feet or roots better than the boxwoods, where the rainwater from the gutters seems to be eroding the land.
My other find, a banana shrub (Magnolia Figo), produces sweet-smelling flowers. Aromatic, lovely to look at, and pet safe is a win-win for me. The shrub is also supposed to be easy to grow. Stepping into my local Louisiana nursery and finding the plants I’ve been thinking about for the last two years felt like Heaven flinging open its gates to me. Colorfully safe additions to the environment don’t mean the pets get to feast on them. I don’t have to dash to the emergency vet if someone nibbles on a flower.
Remember I said I had been waiting a couple of years. Well, I do my research before adding plants to my yard. I don’t want to add another toxic plant to my backyard if I can help. Chasing after the dogs is exhausting. Before making purchases, I check the ASPCA website or the American Society for Preventing Cruelty to Animals.
If I buy an unsafe plant, I must ensure it is off-limits to my four-legged friends. I also ensure it doesn’t spread through rhizomes or tubers below ground like the Louisiana iris. They’re not only poisonous to pets; they spread quickly in thick clumps beneath the ground. Everyone is willing to give them away in spring because they multiply like crazy and must be thinned out, or they’ll take over.
Another point I should make is that my cats have shown zero interest in the plants. I have one cat that still goes outdoors. Kid, my male cat, who loves birds and bunnies more than they love him. I don’t care for Kid’s hunting habit, killing birds and bunnies, so I reduce his time outdoors. His peak hunting hours appear to be when it’s dark out. He stays indoors until sunrise and returns indoors when the sun sets. He also goes to bed when I do. My other cats are indoors only.
Returning to the topic of unsafe plants, if you’re able to stick to a list, please carry one. Alphabetize all safe plants or print out a list from the ASPCA website. If you’re like me- an impulse buyer- try previewing only and come back the next day to shop after you have done your homework.
The odds are that the plant will still be there when you return. If not, you can find it online for sale. Plants ship just fine. I’ve ordered dormant Japanese maples, bulbs, bare roots, and leafy plants without a problem.
Alternatively, you can check the ASPCA website on your phone to see if a plant is listed as toxic or nontoxic. I find it difficult to see a phone screen in broad daylight, so going back to shop later works best for me. Most of my backyard is planted, except for some shady spots, so I must ensure the plants meet two requirements. One, they must be pet-safe, and two, they need to grow in low light.
DISCLAIMER
I am not a veterinarian, vet tech, or medical professional. I am a pet mom and a plant lover, sharing my personal pet experience and what I have learned about keeping my pets safe in the yard.
Call a veterinarian or any of the following numbers if your pet ingests a toxic plant or appears to have ingested a poisonous plant.
Poison Control Helpline at 855-764-7661
ASPCA Poison Control Helpline 888-426-4435
It’s impossible to make a list of all plants that are toxic to pets. What causes a minor upset stomach in one pet may prove lethal to another. For example, the Lily of the Valley might cause an upset stomach in your pup, but it will kill a cat. Lily of the Valley isn’t a true lily. It’s part of the Asparagaceae family.
Another Google search resulted in an article about False Lily of the Valley, but that’s another blog post, another misnomer, proving plant names are tricky. The point is research. Double-check your understanding and look at multiple sources of information so you know exactly what you are planting and the effects it can have on your furry companions.
Toxic plants have a range of symptoms, from minor and short-lived nausea and vomiting to major organ failure and death. The list I’ve compiled below are some of the common toxic plants I have seen in my region. Some are plants in my yard, and I’ve taken preventive measures to ensure my four-legged friends don’t taste or think of feasting on them. My pets are my children and my responsibility. I would be devastated if anything happened to them.
I’ve composed a list of common plants that are toxic to pets. This list does not include all of the toxic plants. I’ve included the links from the sources I’ve used at the bottom of the page.
Toxic plant list
Aloe, unaltered, is toxic to your pets. It can cause vomiting and diarrhea. While it benefits you and me, and many people keep it in containers on their patio, please keep it away from the pets.
Amaryllis, seen mainly in the spring, is poisonous to pets. The plant can cause nausea, vomiting, depression, diarrhea, pain in the abdomen, excess drooling, weight loss, and tremors. I have amaryllis flowering behind the fence, where it’s inaccessible to my pets.
Asparagus fern, also called emerald or foxtail fern, are poisonous to pets. You’ll see them in hanging baskets. They’re durable where I live and grow wild if you let them, but the leaves will irritate the skin if rubbed against. Eating the berries can result in digestive upset, including vomiting and a painful abdomen.
Chrysanthemums and daisies are toxic to pets. Being easy to grow and colorful makes them popular choices. I have a couple of fall-blooming chrysanthemums, but they’re inaccessible to my pets. Some bloom from late spring into fall. If eaten, the plant can disturb the gastrointestinal tract. Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of controlled movement may result in some pets.
Lilies are toxic to pets. Cats react the worst. Asiatic lilies, daylilies, and, more recently, Peruvian lilies (Alstroemeria spp.) have become common in flowerbeds in my region. Colorful and easy to grow, you feel like you can’t go wrong until Fido takes a bite out of the plant or the bulb. The bulbs resemble a ball like Amaryllis bulbs. Please keep lilies away from your pets. What might cause an upset stomach in your dog will kill your kitty. I find it difficult to differentiate between the varieties and which one may be safe.
Milkweed sap is toxic to pets. Milkweed is often planted to attract butterflies, but varieties contain toxins that affect the heart and the brain. Vomiting, severe depression, weakness, weight loss, and digestive upset are common. Seizures, problems breathing, racing or faint pulse, enlarged pupils, and failure of major organs, such as the liver, and even respiratory paralysis can follow. Death is a possibility if enough is ingested or the pet isn’t treated immediately. There are safe pet options if you still want to plant a butterfly garden, as I’m considering doing this summer. Even if you enclose milkweed, it spreads through rhizomes. This is the case with many plants, for example, irises and amaryllis, that are toxic to dogs. They produce more bulbs. Enclosing them in a fenced-in area can prove pointless unless you are willing to dig and stop the spread.
Nightshades (genus Solanum) include your garden's potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants. They are all toxic, except tomatoes, which, if ripened, are not poisonous. The key takeaway is don’t give your dog unripe tomatoes. Nightshade (Solanum) contains Solanine, which is toxic to pets. Excess drooling, appetite loss, digestive tract upset, depression, weakness, enlarged pupils, and decreased heart rate are all side effects. Please do not confuse Nightshade (Solanum) with the Deadly Nightshade (Atropa Belladonna) used in myths or the stuff Shakespeare’s Juliet was believed to have ingested.
Oleander (Nerium Oleander) is toxic. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Side effects include digestive tract upset, irregular heart function, hypothermia or severe core temperature irregularity, and death.
Rhododendrons and Azaleas are toxic to pets. The showy and delicate flowers add to the landscaping. Azaleas are hardy in zone 9, where I live, and require minimal effort. They cause stomach upset, vomiting, strength loss, heart issues, and depression. Keep the pets away.
Sago Palm is poisonous to pets. It’s another easy-to-grow plant used in landscaping, but can make your pet severely ill. Upset stomach symptoms, vomiting, bleeding of the alimentary canal or gastrointestinal tract, bleeding out of the ordinary, bruising, damaged liver, and coma are possible.
If a pet eats a toxic plant
Call a veterinarian or any of the following numbers if your pet ingests a toxic plant or appears to have ingested a poisonous plant.
Poison Control Helpline at 855-764-7661
ASPCA Poison Control Helpline t 888-426-4435
The Poison Control Helpline and the ASPCA Poison Control Helpline may recommend bringing your pet to the veterinarian immediately. If getting your pet to the vet directly is not an option, they might recommend first aid tips. Do not induce throwing up in your pet without a veterinarian’s permission. They can tell you if it is safe to do so based on what your pet consumed, the amount consumed, and the length of time since the toxin was ingested.
Other treatment options may be more suitable. If the vet can’t induce vomiting with a hydrogen peroxide solution appropriate for your pet, medication may help eliminate the toxins. Remember, the veterinarians know the technique well, and they know the correct dose for your pet. Activated charcoal combined with sorbitol ( a carbohydrate sugar alcohol) may purge or flush the toxins from your pet’s body, minimizing further absorption or slowing it down before it can reach the bloodstream.
Lipid emulsion therapy, used to treat local anesthetic toxicity, may be given intravenously to dissolve and get rid of toxins in severe cases. Found at https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/first-aid-poisonous-substances
Pet Safe Plants
African Violet
Banana
Boston or Sword Fern
Bromeliad
Camellia
Cast iron
Coral Bells
Fuchsia
Herbs such as basil, sage, and thyme (Lavendar and oregano are not pet-friendly)
Hibiscus
Impatiens
Magnolia bush
Marigolds
Orchid
Pansies
Petunias
Purple passion vine
Rex Begonia
Rosemary
Spider plant
Staghorn Fern
Squash
Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas do not produce tubers)
Sunflowers
Zinnia
Pet Safe Plants
From my yard
(left to right) zinnia, hibiscus, viola, hibiscus, squash, zinnia, rose, camellia
Many pet-safe plants can add texture and color to your flowerbeds and yard. I have several large camellia bushes in my backyard. I keep orchids on the patio and just received an orchid tree I planted, where I plan to create a pet-safe butterfly garden. I have it fenced off. I don’t want to attract the butterflies for the dogs to chase.
Hibiscus, especially the variegated variety with multicolored leaves, adds a pop of color to the landscape, especially in my tropical bed that I keep fenced off so it doesn’t get trampled. I plant pansies in early spring. Sunflowers rise in yards throughout the neighborhood. Sweet potato vines trellis and unfurl in beds in my zone, but be careful not to pick up the wrong vine. You will want the one that doesn’t produce tubers.
Herbs are aromatic, but be careful to choose the pet-safe variety. I’ve taken to planting herbs in containers. I break off pieces for the dogs, who love them. They know their plants. Soon, I plan to make a dog garden. I’m in the testing phase to see what I can grow in the available space.
I’m striving for safe plants for my pets from now on. Gardening with pets is doable and doesn’t have to be a chore. The pets can enjoy Gardening as much as you, so don’t make it hard on yourself.
Stay happy and keep your four-legged friends safe.
Interrupting someone’s catnap for a photo opportunity
Kid cat sitting on a potted dianthus that died back in the winter. The pink flowery bush in front of him is an azalea bush, and the green leaves in front of them, are amaryllis leaves. Both plants are toxic to pets.
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Sources:
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (n.d.). Milkweed. ASPCA. Retrieved February 12, 2023, from https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/milkweed
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (n.d.). 17 Poisonous Plants to Pets. ASPCA. Retrieved February 12, 2023, from https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/17-plants-poisonous-pets
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (2022, April 26). Which lilies are toxic to pets? ASPCA. Retrieved February 12, 2023, from https://www.aspca.org/news/which-lilies-are-toxic-pets
Coates, J., DVM (2023, November 28). Plants Poisonous to Dogs. Retrieved February 12, 2023, from https://www.petmd.com/dog/poisons/plants-poisonous-to-dogs
Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center (n.d.). First-aid for poisonous substances. Retrieved February 12, 2024, from https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/first-aid-poisonous-substances
Darrisaw, M. (5029, May 19). Best and Worst Flowers And Plants For A Pet-Friendly Garden. Retrieved February 12, 2023, from https://www.southernliving.com/garden/flowers/pet-friendly-plants
Coates, J., DVM (2023, November 28). Plants Poisonous to Dogs. Retrieved February 12, 2023, from https://www.petmd.com/dog/poisons/plants-poisonous-to-dogs
Markert, C., Heilmann, R. M., Kiwitz, D., & Doerfelt, R. (2023). Intravenous lipid emulsion for treating poisonings in 313 dogs and 100 cats (2016-2020). Frontiers in veterinary science, 10, 1272705. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1272705
Wag! (n.d.). Nightshade poisoning in dogs. Retrieved February 12, 2024, from https://wagwalking.com/condition/nightshade-poisoning
