White Paper Packet Portfolio - Brenna Dwyer

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The Risks and

Solutions of Owning
Pets and House Plants
Brenna Dwyer
Table Of Contents Summary .....................................................................2

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Toxic Plants, Their Toxins, And Effect ............................................................................................2

Cases ...............................................................................................................................................3
Treatment .........................................................................................................................................3
Why Is My Pet Eating My Plants? ...................................................................................................3
Solutions ..........................................................................................................................................4
Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................5
Citations ...........................................................................................................................................6
Summary
This paper will explore the often-overlooked issue of animal toxicity in house plants and their
impact on household pets. We aim to raise awareness of this growing issue among house plant
enthusiasts and animal lovers. In addition, the paper advocates for education as a solution
tocombat the risks associated with certain house plants. The growing popularity of house plants
as an aesthetic addition could pose a hidden danger for our beloved furry friends. Many of our
favorite, common house plants can be extremely toxic and even deadly to dogs, cats, and other
animals, leading to various health issues and, in severe cases, fatalities. Different plants range in
toxicity so some symptoms could go unnoticed for weeks or months.
Toxic Plants, Their Toxins, And Effect

The most common toxic house plants attributed to indoor
poisoning of pets are Anthuriums, Aucuba japonica, Cycas
revoluta, Cyclamen, Dieffenbachia, Dracaena marginata,
Euphorbia pulcherrima, Ficus benjamina, Lilium, Nandina
domestica, Rhododendron, Spathiphyllum, and Zantedeschia
aethiopica. These plants contain the toxins, Insoluble
calcium oxalates, Iridoid glycoside aucubin, Azoglycosides,
Terpenoid saponins, trypsin-like protease, Steroidal
saponins, glycosides, Diterpenoid euphorbol esters, steroids,
Ficin, furocoumarins, ficusin, Steroidal glycoalkaloids,
steroidal saponins, Cyanogenic glycosides, berberine
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alkaloids, Grayanotoxin glycosides, and proteolytic enzymes. The happiest time of the year can
quickly turn into a nightmare for some pet owners. The majority of beautiful greenery we use to
decorate during the holiday season is sadly toxic to our four-legged friends. Some of these plants
are Amaryllis, the Christmas Cactus, Holly, Kalanchoe, Mistletoe, Poinsettia, Rosemary, and
even Christmas Trees. These plants contain toxins such as alkaloids lycorine and tazetine, when
an animal ingests these toxins they can cause vomiting and diarrhea, with and without blood,
anorexia, hypersalivation hypotension, seizures, sedation, abdominal pain, and
depression. The most common symptoms of chronic toxicity in animals are loss of
weight, gastrointestinal issues, and asthma.
Cases
According to the Fruitville Veterinary Clinic, “The ASPCA American Poison Control Centre
(APCC) assisted in 401,550 cases in 2021 and Pet Poison Helpline (serving Canada, the United
States, and the Caribbean) reported a 51% increase in call volume from 2020 to 2021.”, House
plants “have held the number five spot on the APCC list of most common [pet poison] cases,
though there were 7,500 more plant ingestion calls in 2021 compared to 2020.”(Fruitville
Veterinary Clinic, 2022). From data collected in Europe, it was found that “5–6% to 11% of the
inquiries on pet poisoning received by poison centers are related to plants.”(Bertero, A., Fossati,
P., & Caloni, F. 2020).
Treatment
If you suspect your pet has ingested a poisonous plant, you are advised to contact your
vet immediately. If you must bring your pet in, treatment is limited and symptomatic.
Vets will attempt to pump your animal’s stomach or surgery may be necessary. Sadly,
once an animal is exposed to these toxins it’s likely they will never make a full recovery
and will experience symptoms for the rest of their life.
Why Is My Pet Eating My Plants?

The most likely reason your pet might be messing with your plants is boredom. If your pet has
been curious about your plants it’s likely that they need more stimulation around your house.
You can help stimulate your pet more with toys or puzzles, this is especially important if you
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leave your pet alone for long periods of time. It is necessary to
acknowledge that our animals are just that, animals, they will
follow their instincts and it is up to us as owners to make sure
our environment is safe for them to explore those instincts.
Solutions
As you can see this is a growingly devastating problem for both animals and their
owners. To help solve this issue I propose that we focus on spreading awareness in areas
where plant enthusiasts and animal lovers frequent. I suggest that plants toxic to animals
have something printed on their tags that allows pet owners to quickly identify the threat
to their animals. Whether it be “Leafs toxic if ingested by cats” printed onto the tag or a
universal symbol, something needs to change so that pet owners aren’t blindly buying
silent killers anymore. Places that sell plants such as Home Depot or smaller independent
nurseries could easily implement this by adding it to the tag that states what plant it is. I
also suggest flyers printed around shelters to help spread awareness to possible pet
owners so that they can get rid of those plants before welcoming their pets into their
homes. I would also suggest shelters and breeders hand out a flyer with a list of the most
common house plants that are toxic to their new animals to adopters after picking up their
animal. On a smaller scale, owners should do their own research to educate themselves
on which plants could be dangerous to their pets. An easy way to be safe without
memorizing every toxic plant is by using the picture search feature on Google. While
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browsing plants snap a quick picture in Google and attach the search “safe for pets”, there
will almost always be an article to help you differentiate if the plant is safe or not. When
in doubt stick to plants that you are positive will be safe, if you cannot find a definitive
answer on whether or not a plant is safe, leave it and pick another similar plant that you
are sure will be safe.
Conclusion
The intersection of house plants and pet safety presents a concerning issue that demands
immediate attention. The toxicity of common indoor plants poses a significant risk to household
pets, with potential consequences ranging from gastrointestinal distress to fatality. The statistics
from veterinary clinics and poison control centers highlight the urgency of addressing this issue,
particularly as the popularity of house plants continues to rise.
Education is a crucial tool in mitigating the risks associated with toxic plants. Proposed
solutions, such as labeling plants with clear warnings and distributing educational materials,
offer practical steps toward raising awareness among both plant enthusiasts and pet owners.
Additionally, utilizing technology, such as image search, can empower individuals to make
informed decisions when selecting plants. Ultimately, safeguarding our furry companions
requires a collective effort from plant retailers, pet-related organizations, and individual pet
owners. By prioritizing awareness and education, we can work towards creating safer
environments for our beloved pets and avoid traumatizing situations for owners.
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Citations
Fruitville Veterinary Clinic. (2022). Reviewing 2021 Pet Poison Statistics for Better Prevention
in 2022. https://fruitvillevet.com/news/reviewing-2021-pet-poison-statistics-for-better-
prevention-in-2022
Gwaltney-Brant, S. (2013). Hazardous Christmas Plants for Pets. Today's Veterinary Practice
https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/toxicology/hazardous-christmas-plants-pets/
Bertero, A., Fossati, P., & Caloni, F. (2020). Plants Poisonous to Cats and Dogs: A European
Perspective. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7427442/

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1 of 6

The Risks and

Table Of Contents Summary .....................................................................2

Toxic Plants, Their Toxins, And Effect ............................................................................................2

toxicity so some symptoms could go unnoticed for weeks or months.

Toxic Plants, Their Toxins, And Effect

Why Is My Pet Eating My Plants?

leave your pet alone for long periods of time. It is necessary to

follow their instincts and it is up to us as owners to make sure

our environment is safe for them to explore those instincts.

are sure will be safe.

particularly as the popularity of house plants continues to rise.

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