Are Snake Plants Really Toxic to Dogs? (7 Great Alternatives)

Yes, snake vegetation are poisonous to dogs. However, they’re solely minorly poisonous, and severe overdoses are fairly uncommon. Snake vegetation include a chemical referred to as saponin, which is a pure insecticide. It retains the plant from being eaten by bugs, however it’s also poisonous to dogs in massive quantities. 

Saponin is of course bitter and foaming when it comes into contact with saliva. If consumed in excessive quantities, it could trigger extra salivation, nausea, diarrhea, and dilated pupils. Theoretically, dying can happen, however that is extraordinarily uncommon. 

Plus, snake vegetation do not style excellent. They’re very bitter, and the saponin creates a burning sensation of their mouth. Therefore, it’s uncommon for a canine to devour all that a lot of the plant. Poisonings are uncommon, although they will occur. 

Snake vegetation are hardly ever lethal to dogs, although they are often. However, they will trigger discomfort and ache. If your canine consumes massive quantities of a snake plant, you could wish to name your vet, simply in case. 

How to Keep Your Dog Away from Snake Plants

There are a number of methods you’ll be able to maintain your canine away from snake vegetation. Hopefully, most dogs gained’t attempt to eat the plant after attempting as soon as because of the bitter style and burning sensation. However, some dogs are very decided and should attempt to eat the plant repeatedly. 

1. Dog-Safe Deterrents 

You can try to make use of a secure repellent that dogs don’t like. There are a number of choices, like pepper, vinegar, or citrus. Spray these deterrents on the plant and see in the event that they’re sufficient to maintain your canine away. You might should attempt a number of issues earlier than you discover one thing that your canine actually doesn’t like. 

However, you’ll have to re-apply these steadily, because the deterrent will get washed off by watering or rain. 

2. Put the Plant Out of Reach

You can even put the snake plant someplace your canine can’t get to it. In many circumstances, that is probably the most easy choice. If you will discover a excessive shelf, hanging basket, or comparable place your canine can’t attain, put it there to maintain the plant and your canine secure. 

Of course, it is best to guarantee the world remains to be appropriate in your plant. 

3. Put Up a Barrier

Alternatively, you’ll be able to put up a barrier to disclaim your canine access to the plant. Often, this solely works in case you don’t thoughts preserving your canine out of the entire space. 

For occasion, you’ll be able to maintain your snake plant within the workplace and put up a gate to forestall your canine from getting into the workplace. This methodology fully prevents your canine from accessing the plant. It may fit greatest in case you have a number of vegetation you must maintain out of your canine’s attain. 

4. Train Your Dog

You can even practice your canine to keep away from the plant, although this may be time-consuming. Some dogs are simpler to coach than others, as effectively. If your canine already is aware of a number of instructions, this route could also be simpler. However, for puppies which can be nonetheless studying the fundamentals, you could have to make use of a special methodology to maintain your canine out of the snake plant. 

Dog-Safe Alternatives to Snake Plants

Of course, the easiest way to forestall snake plant poisoning is to not have them in your own home in any respect. There are a number of different vegetation you could wish to select which can be low-maintenance whereas nonetheless being secure in your canine

1. Spider Plant

Spider vegetation are a standard houseplant for individuals with pets. They’re very straightforward to maintain, making them a good selection for inexperienced persons. They want oblique daylight, which works effectively indoors, they usually want to dry out between waterings (that means they want much less watering general).

They have lengthy, arching leaves with inexperienced and white stripes, which make them fascinating to take a look at. These vegetation are a chic resolution for any home. 

They’re additionally identified for his or her air-purifying properties. They might assist enhance indoor air high quality by filtering out widespread indoor air pollution. 

It’s fairly straightforward to see why they’d be so in style. 

2. Boston Fern

Boston ferns are a classical houseplant. Even in case you didn’t know what this fern was referred to as, you’ve in all probability seen one. They’re extraordinarily widespread, particularly in households with pets. 

Part of their recognition comes from them being very straightforward to take care of. They require a bit extra humidity than different vegetation, permitting them to work effectively in areas which can be already humid. However, misting can even present them with the humidity they should thrive.

Of course, they’re fully non-toxic to pets. Their lush, inexperienced foliage is paying homage to the jungle, they usually are likely to develop very effectively in many alternative situations. 

3. Areca Palm

While not as straightforward to take care of as another vegetation on this checklist, this tiny palm is changing into increasingly more in style as a houseplant. It thrives in vibrant, oblique gentle, which describes the sunshine situation of most houses on the market. Plus, it’s fully non-toxic to all pets. 

You do must water these vegetation very commonly. They want to remain moist always, although their soil shouldn’t be soggy. 

Their feathery fronds can present a singular look to any home, in order that they’re an ideal choice for these on the lookout for a plant that’s just a little bit totally different. Of course, in addition they work very effectively for a beach-themed home. 

4. Bamboo Palms

Bamboo palms are one other in style kind of houseplant that resembles a really small palm tree. They’re extraordinarily low upkeep whereas additionally being fully secure for dogs. Therefore, they’re an ideal choice for individuals who don’t have a lot time on their palms (or who’ve a little bit of a black thumb).

They may even tolerate low gentle situations, in order that they work effectively in virtually any family. You ought to enable their soil to partially dry between waterings to forestall root rot. Most individuals overwater this plant as an alternative of underwater it.

5. African Violet

These charming flowering vegetation have a really totally different aesthetic than different vegetation on this checklist. They’re one of many few low-maintenance vegetation which can be additionally flowering. Therefore, if you’d like a plant that flowers, that is the one we advocate. 

They are available all shades of blue and white, so you may probably buy a number of of them whereas nonetheless having some quantity of selection. Of course, they’re fully secure for dogs, which is how they landed on this checklist. 

These flowers want vibrant, oblique gentle, making them work effectively in houses. They additionally want persistently moist soil, however you shouldn’t maintain their soil waterlogged. 

6. Calathea 

This plant species is thought for its placing foliage sample, making it an ideal ornamental choice. They’re additionally fully secure for pets of all types. You can discover their leaves in all types of various colours, permitting you to decide on the best choice in your home. 

They don’t want very a lot gentle and infrequently do exactly wonderful in vibrant, oblique gentle. However, we solely advocate them in areas which can be naturally humid or if you wish to continually mist the plant. They require constant humidity, or their leaves will brown. 

We advocate preserving the soil evenly moist. However, don’t water it a lot that the water swimming pools. 

7. Chinese Money Plant

The Chinese Money Plant is thought for being “good luck.” They’re presupposed to convey money into your home, assuming you are taking excellent care of them. They do require a bit extra upkeep than different vegetation on this checklist, however their distinctive spherical leaves additionally set them aside from different vegetation on this checklist.

These vegetation thrive in average to vibrant oblique gentle. Therefore, you’ll want to put them in a fairly sunny window. You also needs to maintain the highest inch of the soil dry, solely watering as soon as it feels prefer it has dried fully.