Which Plants are Pet-Safe?

The taste and scent of any flower can be deceiving to a dog and cat when the flower tastes good. Naturally, the pet will continue to eat the flower despite the poisonous content. There is a high toxicity in the Easter lily, morning glories, buttercups, oleander, tulips, lily of the valley, and Christmas roses, Mistletoe, marigold, creeping Charlie, Ivy (all varieties), red lily, azaleas are just a few of the toxic plants. Morning glories have a high toxicity level which causes hallucinations, possible seizures, stomach upset that can lead to death. All parts of the oleander flower are very poisonous causing instant death.

The safe plants for dogs are most:

• Ferns
• African Violets
• Orchid
• Zinnia
• Bamboo
• Gerbera daisy

The safe plants for cats are:

• Ferns
• Spider Plant
• Grape Ivy
• Sunflower
• Snapdragon
• Magnolia miniature roses
• Cape Primrose

The Christmas cactus, Christmas orchid, yucca plant, gardenia, jade plant, cornflower, blue daisy tend to be safe for pets except for mild ingestion, diarrhea and vomiting if eaten. Since the plants are non-toxic, it is not necessary to seek veterinary treatment. The Poison Control Center will instruct an owner how to induce vomiting with hydrogen peroxide.

Edible Flowers

There is a wide range of safe edible plants for pets to eat and enjoy with plenty of taste.

• Carnations (pink petals)
• Johnny-Jump-Up
• Petunias
• Dandelions]
• Hollyhocks
• Impatiens
• Pineapple Sage
• Pansies
• Nasturtiums
• Hibiscus Flowers
• Geraniums

Every edible flower a dog eats is high in vitamins and nutrition producing a shinier coat and fewer allergies. If the edible flowers are grown organically then the flowers are safe. Pets like the mint-flavoured pansy and the lemony taste of lavender which has many culinary uses. Lavender makes great aromatherapy products and dog treats. Lavender is one of the most popular edible flowers today in the pet industry. The unique combinations of lavender-blueberry, rose petals-rose geranium, and pineapple sage-orange peel make tasty dog treats. The edible flower dog treats have introduced pet owners to an alternative healthier lifestyle with greater benefits. The dog lavender treats can create a calmer disposition and the cat lavender treats provide protein and vitamins. A variety of pet shops, pet specialty shops, and the internet sell organic dog and cat treats. Most cities have pet bakeries now where organic treats are sold with a menu of flavours.

Safety Net

Pet owners need to educate themselves about the toxic and non toxic plants. The best approach is to keep a list of the toxic plants and the phone number of the Poison Control Center. When a pet owner is extra cautious about a pet, fewer problems will occur. Pet owners need to build a safety net for their pets so they can live a long healthy life.