What to do if dog Eats snake plant

Some house and garden plants, tree leaves, flowers, and berries are poisonous if eaten by dogs. Find out which ones are toxic and how to recognize the warning signs if your dog has eaten the wrong plant.

Our dogs join us in so many parts of our day in so many places: our homes, friends' homes, yards, dog parks, beaches, and outdoor trails. And while our dogs walk, run, and jump around with us, they come into contact with dozens of different house plants, trees, garden plants, and more as they're out exploring and enjoying nature with us.

Unfortunately, some of those plants that humans find tasty or beautiful can be hazardous to dogs if they eat them. And with their curious nature and insatiable appetites, it's almost inevitable your dog will sniff, chew, and eat weird stuff once in a while.

For instance, an upset stomach may drive a dog to eat grass or another plant. Or a dog may like the smell, texture, or taste of a particular plant or flower. There's even a condition known as pica, which describes people and animals eating things not normally considered food, that provide no nutritional benefit to the person or animal. (Rock chewers, we're looking at you.) 

Any pet owner can probably tell you at least one story about the time their dog ate something they shouldn't have. When they do eat things we wish they wouldn't, it's important to know whether that thing is toxic to dogs, and what to do if you suspect your pooch has ingested something poisonous.

Emma Darvick

Trees, Shrubs, and Other Poisonous Plants to Dogs

If your dog seems to be having a bad response to ingesting a plant, call your veterinarian or an animal poisoning hotline. 

Because there are so many plants around us every day, it's hard to provide a completely comprehensive list of safe and unsafe plants for dogs. But Tina Wismer, DVM, MS, DABVT, DABT, a veterinarian and senior director at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, shared with us 5 common plant culprits with more severe clinical signs.

"Eating any plant can cause stomach upset, vomiting, and diarrhea in pets," Wismer points out. But she says vets see more severe signs of poisoning from these plants: 

• Sago palm (Cyccas revoluta) is used as a landscape plant in the southern U.S. and is a houseplant in colder climates. It's toxic to all pets (that includes cats, too) and can cause symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, liver failure, and potentially death. All parts of the sago palm are poisonous, but the seed or "nuts" contain the largest amount of toxins.
• Lily of the valley (Convallaria spp.) is a common landscaping plant. Even a small exposure to any part of the lily of the valley plant can cause dangerous changes in a dog's heart rate and rhythm.
• Oleander (Nerium oleander) is another common landscaping plant, especially on the west coast. Like lily of the valley, oleander also contains cardiac glycosides, which increase the heart's output and contractions, changing a dog's heart rate and heart rhythm.
• Castor bean (Ricinus communis) is a plant that grows wild, is sometimes used in landscaping, and whose seeds can be used to make jewelry. Castor bean is highly toxic and can cause severe stomach upset, liver failure, and tremors.
• Marijuana (Cannabis sativa), grown for human recreational and medicinal uses, if eaten by dogs can cause depression, unsteady gait, low heart rate, and low temperature. Ingestion of more concentrated THC products can cause more severe signs, including seizures. 

Here's a sampling of other outdoor plants whose leaves, berries, stems, and more can poison dogs who eat them:

• Autumn crocus 
• Azalea
• Boxwood 
• Chrysanthemum 
• Cyclamen 
• English ivy
• Foxglove 
• Hemlock 
• Mistletoe 
• Mushrooms you don't recognize as safe
• Night blooming jasmine is toxic if ingested, especially the berries. Plants in the Jasmine family, however, are not toxic.
• Rhododendron 
• Rhubarb
• Tulip/Narcissus bulbs 
• Wisteria 
• Yew 

Both the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and Pet Poison Helpline have searchable lists of toxic and non-toxic plants.

Common House Plants that are Poisonous to Dogs

It's not just trees and shrubs in your landscaping and the great outdoors you'll need to be on the lookout for. Many common houseplants are also toxic if your dog ingests them. While it's less likely your dog will want to snack on these than say, your cat, puppies especially may be prone to let their curious noses wander into uncharted munching territory. Keep plants out of their reach, and away from high-use areas like their dog bed or crate. While not exhaustive, here's a list of common house plants you'll want to keep an eye on: 

• Aloe
• Begonia
• Calla lilies
• Coleus
• Corn plant (also known as Dracaena)
• Dieffenbachia
• English ivy
• Fig (or ficus) tree
• Jade plant
• Peace lily
• Philodendron
• Poinsettia
• Octopus tree
• Snake plant (also known as Mother-in-Law's Tongue)

What to Do if Your Dog has Been Poisoned

If you know your dog has eaten a poisonous plant, here's what to do:

• Remove your dog from proximity to the plant. Note the plant's name, if you recognize it, or take a picture of it to help medical professionals in treating your dog.
• Make sure your dog is breathing, alert, and behaving normally. Place a call your veterinarian or a phone hotline to help with pet poisoning, like Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661, or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435. Remember, hotlines like these do charge for their services, so a consultation fee may apply. A professional can tell you whether you need to treat your dog at home or bring her in to be seen by a veterinarian.
• Call your veterinarian or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic immediately if your dog is not behaving normally. Avoid any at-home remedies or antidotes that have not been directed for use by your veterinarian. That includes making your dog vomit. Vomiting may be the right approach, but it might also be dangerous based on what your dog ingested and what's happening in the dog's body.

Remember, the sooner you get help for a dog who's eaten a poisonous plant, the better the chances your dog can recover from poisoning. Treatment, whether at home under a veterinarian's orders or in a veterinary hospital, will be specific to the plant that poisoned your dog. Your veterinarian may give your pup intravenous fluid, flush your dog's stomach, give your dog activated charcoal to absorb the toxin, or need to perform surgery. Supportive medications may help your dog's kidneys and liver process the poison and heal.

The ASPCA Poison Control estimates that 25 percent of poisoned pets recover within 2 hours. Even with treatment, 1 in 100 poisoned pets die.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so check lists of toxic and non-toxic plants before you bring greenery into the home or plant in the yard or garden. Your dog and your veterinarian will thank you.

RELATED: 8 Tips to Created a Dog-Friendly Yard

Here’s a fact most dog owners should, but probably don’t know: your houseplants can be toxic to your furry friends. In this case, snake plants are toxic to dogs!

As dog owners, we are very particular about what our pets eat. We keep them as far away as possible from the likes of chocolate and grapes as we should.

But what about snake plants? Even if the plant is nice to put inside, it might be toxic to your dog.

Turns out there are some critical risks you want to consider before you pick these up at the store.

Snake plants are mildly toxic to dogs as it contains saponins, a natural chemical produced by the plant to protect it from insects, microbes, and fungi. It can cause vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, excessive drooling, and ruptured red blood cells (in the worst-case scenario). 

In this article, we will tell you all you need to know about the relationship between the snake plant and man’s best friend.

Let’s get right into it.

Are Snake Plants Toxic To Dogs?

The snake plant looks like a non-threatening plant on the surface. But it turns out it can take after its name and be quite poisonous to your pets.

As a result, snake plants are toxic to dogs.

If you have a dog, you will know that they will try to eat almost anything. Then, the danger is that they might try to eat this plant as well.

If they eat a snake plant, they can develop symptoms of poisoning. Some may be mild and easy to treat.

However, if they ingest a large quantity, they can develop severe allergic reactions. It can even cause ruptured red blood cells and can be fatal.

What Makes Snake Plants Toxic To Ingest?

The toxicity of the seemingly harmless snake plants comes from an organic chemical called Saponin.

Saponin is a plant-derived chemical that is found in a variety of plants. It is bitter, and it foams when it comes in contact with water.

Many plants have it as a natural pest repellent.

The foaming quality of the toxin can upset your dog’s digestive system. It can also disturb normal cell activity, which can lead to ruptured red blood cells. However, not all of it is harmful.

For instance, Saponins found in foods like spinach and oats increase our ability to absorb silicon and calcium. This helps our body easily digest food.

Symptoms of Snake Plant Poisoning in Dogs

If your dog has munched on a snake plant, they might show the following symptoms.

• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Excessive drooling
• Vomiting

Take your dog to the vet if you notice these symptoms.

You can also call pet poison helpline at 855-764-7661.

Treatment in time can save your pet from a lot of discomfort or death in severe cases. It is not a risk you will want to take.

Be sure to take a portion of the plant with you as well. Make sure the plant is covered and not near your dog.

At the clinic, the vet might take stool and blood samples from your dog. And the reatment will depend on how severe the poisoning is.

Treatment of Snake Plant Poisoning In Dogs

The treatment for Saponin poisoning is similar to treatment for other types of poisoning.

If your dog is not throwing up, the vet might induce vomiting to pump out the toxins from your pet’s stomach.

They might also give your pet some activated charcoal. This will absorb the toxins that have not been absorbed by the body yet.

If your dog is experiencing excessive vomiting and diarrhea, fluid therapy might also be administered. It is to keep your dog from being dehydrated from all the fluid they are losing.

The pace of recovery will depend on the intensity of the poisoning. It will also depend on how quickly you get your pet to the vet.

Your dog can recover from mild cases of poisoning within hours. You will want to give your dog a bland diet for a few days while their stomach recovers.

For more severe cases, you might have to nurse your dog back to health for some days.

Dog Safe Alternatives to Snake Plant

After learning of the potential risks of the snake plant, it is understandable if you don’t want them around your house anymore.

So what do we do about the newly formed snake plant-shaped hole in your life?

Worry not because you can find other equally unique and stunning options in the market that are safe for your dogs.

With these plants, you won’t have to fuss even if your loyal companions accidentally eat them.

1) Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

The spider plant is a popular plant in the community and is also known as ribbon plant, spider ivy, and hen & chicken.

Its white and green tendrils make it look like ribbons unfurling from the soil or spiders growing from your pot.

These plants are easy to maintain. They require little sunlight and water. They flourish in well-draining soil.

2) Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)

Next on our list is the Brazilian prayer plant. It gets its name from its behavior.

In the daytime, it has flat, regular leaves. During the nighttime, it will fold these leaves like hands in prayer.

The prayer plant has stunning green, velvety leaves with red veins and spots of yellow. It grows in greenhouse-like conditions with indirect sunlight.

3) Staghorn Fern (Platycerium bifurcatum)

The staghorn fern resembles exactly that- the horns of a Stag. It is no wonder why people like to mount it on a board and hang it on a wall!

These plants love rooms that get bright, indirect sunlight. Be wary of too much direct sunlight, however, because it can damage the leaves.

Properly taken care of, these plants will survive the winters as well and give you lovely antlers for up to 90 years!

4) Aluminum Plant (Pilea cadierei)

These plants have lush green leaves with silver patterns. They love to grow. Sometimes, they may even break your container!

To maintain healthy leaf growth, you will have to prune them to half of their stem height every year.

They like a lot of indirect sunlight. Like the prayer plant, these plants can become scorched in direct sunlight too.

5) Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas)

As shocking as it sounds for a potato plant to be an ornamental indoor plant, the sweet potato vine produces some of the most beautiful leaves and vines.

However, its leaves are better admired than eaten. They do not make for a good delicacy.

What they lack in taste, however, they make up in the vibrant green, yellow, and even purple leaves they produce.

6) Sweetheart Hoya (Hoya kerrii)

It is popularly known by names like Valentine hoya, hoya hearts, wax heart plant, lucky hearts plant, and love heart plant.

This plant grows with little water and sunlight and can reach up to 13 feet in length!

You can grow them as little heart-shaped succulent leaves in little pots. Or you can also grow them in a hanging basket of many heart-shaped, waxy leaves.

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you gain more information about how and why snake plants are toxic to your dogs.

It has certainly taught us to be more careful about the plants we bring into our homes.

We have also learned not to be discouraged since there are ways to maintain our appetite for stunning indoor plants while keeping our dogs safe.

Now equipped with this information, happy, safe planting!

You might want to keep your snake plant away from your cat too. Learn more here: Snake Plant Toxic to Cats