Note to All Dog Lovers: Which Plants Are Good or Should Be Avoided for a Walk with Pets?

Many pet owners still believe that their four-legged pet knows what is bad and what is good. This is only partly true. Pets often cannot distinguish a useful plant from a harmful one. Therefore, the task of the owner is to know what is allowed and what is strictly forbidden for the dog.

But not every person is a plant specialist and can even confuse pictures of lilies plants with pictures of other plants. What to do then? How to protect the pet? It is easy to identify a plant and get its brief description by using the Lily plant identification. According to user feedback, the plant identifier app can determine the key characteristics of any plant from a photo. So, if you really want to take care of the health of your pet, you should start using it already today.

Learn more about useful and harmful plants for dogs from this article.

List of Indoor and Outdoor Pet-Friendly Plants

Consider the list of plants that are safe for your pet:

1. Arrowroot. This is a popular indoor plant that loves the warmth of sunlight. The flower feels good in conditions of high humidity, so it is recommended to spray it with a sprayer and water it abundantly in the summer. Arrowroot belongs to safe plants for dogs. If even a pet eats one or more leaves, the probability of developing digestive disorders is minimal;
2. Echeveria. This is another indoor plant that does no harm to pets. It likes diffused bright light and systematic watering. The color of the flower depends on the intensity of the light. The level of humidity does not significantly affect the condition of the plant;
3. Areca palm. This indoor plant is absolutely safe for both dogs and cats. With it, you can replace the sago palms in your house, which are highly toxic to pets. Areca palms can grow up to 1.5-3 meters in height and feel good in moist soil with bright direct light. In addition, they are excellent indoor air purifiers, removing such pollutants as acetone, xylene, and toluene from the air;
4. Achilléa millefólium. This outdoor plant is great for stopping bleeding. If your pet has wounds, you can provide first aid by washing the wounds first with iodine solution, and then treat with Achilléa millefólium. Pharmacies sell ready-made balm from this plant, but you can prepare it yourself;
5. Milk Thistle. The therapeutic extract of this outdoor plant is Silymarin, which acts as a powerful natural antioxidant. This plant is indispensable for the liver, as it increases efficiency and protects the liver. Milk Thistle also promotes the functioning of the eyes and protects them from cloudiness. Therefore, it is not only safe but also useful for pets;
6. Valerian Officinalis. This is a strong-smelling yet highly effective herb that will help your pet calm down and fall asleep. If your dog is often anxious or stressed, Valerian will help to calm down and rest for a while. It’s also a great sedative for a long car ride.

Toxic Plants Dogs Should Avoid

So, you probably already understood that flowers can be dangerous for dogs. Find below a list of plants that your pet should not come into contact with:

1. Podophyllum. It is a herbaceous perennial plant from the barberry family that contains podophyllotoxin. It is more of a garden plant, but it is sometimes grown at home. The concentration of the toxin is the highest during the Podophyllum flowering period. When entering the pet`s body, the toxin causes severe salivation, vomiting, and problems with swallowing;
2. Epipremnum Golden Potos. This attractive climbing plant threatens the lives of cats and dogs because the sap of these plants contains oxalate crystals that protect the plant from natural predators. Digestion of these crystals can cause irritation of the mouth and tongue, difficulty swallowing saliva, and vomiting;
3. Hedera. This is a beautiful plant that weaves around the walls and windows of houses. Hedera is also often used to create festive wreaths for Christmas or Easter. However, it is toxic for dogs due to the active ingredient urushiol;
4. Dieffenbachia. As soon as your pet swallows the leaves of this plant, you will immediately notice unpleasant consequences. Symptoms include a strong burning sensation, irritation in the mouth, excessive salivation, etc. Keep your pet away from this dangerous plant;
5. Lilies. Lily is a herbaceous plant with large and beautiful flowers of various colors growing from bulbs. It belongs to the genus of plants of the Lily family. Lilies are gardeners’ favorites. The modern assortment of types and varieties of lilies is huge. They differ in size, shape, and color of flowers. However, it is worth considering that all parts of the lily are poisonous to dogs and cats. Contact of a pet with a plant can cause respiratory disorders and irritation in the mouth. To learn more, upload pictures of lilies plants to the US identification app and receive up-to-date information;
6. Azalea. This is one of the brightest flowering plants that we often grow in our gardens. However, it is dangerous for dogs. It causes serious digestion problems, accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, etc.

To learn more about the plants described above or to identify any other US plant, please use the Lily identification app.