The Johannesburg SPCA (JSPCA) is urging pet owners to stay vigilant and informed about common household and garden plants that may pose serious risks to animals, as part of its ongoing efforts to raise awareness in the community about responsible pet care.
Why plants can be dangerous
Plants produce natural compounds to help them survive in the wild, but those same compounds can irritate your pet’s mouth and stomach, or even damage their organs.
If your pet has chewed on a plant and you notice any of the following symptoms, contact your vet immediately:
•Drooling or pawing at the mouth
• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• Lethargy or depression
• Difficulty swallowing
• Tremors or seizures
Common toxic houseplants
Fiddle Leaf Fig
This plant’s sap can cause oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, and skin irritation in pets.
Monstera Deliciosa (Delicious Monster)
Contains insoluble calcium oxalates, making it highly toxic to dogs and cats. It can cause mouth swelling, drooling, and vomiting.
Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
Popular for its toughness, but its saponins can lead to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea if ingested.
Aloe Vera
Widely used for human skin care, but dangerous for pets. It can cause vomiting, lethargy, tremors, and changes in urine colour.
String of Pearls
This South African native succulent is toxic when eaten, and its sap can irritate the skin. Watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, and lethargy.
Cannabis
Cannabis poisoning in dogs has become one of the most common toxic plant-related emergencies vets encounter. Symptoms include incoordination, tremors, seizures, and in severe cases, coma.
Extremely dangerous
Cycads
Cycads are among the most dangerous plants for dogs. Every part – seeds, leaves, and roots – contains cycasin, a toxin that attacks the liver. Dogs are particularly drawn to the seeds.
If you suspect cycad ingestion, treat it as an emergency and call your vet immediately.
Symptoms include vomiting, jaundice, weakness, seizures, and liver failure.
Lilies
Lilies are life-threatening to cats – even the pollen. Every part of the plant can cause kidney failure.
Other toxic garden plants include azaleas, daffodils, tulips, chrysanthemums, and oleander.
Safer alternatives
If you’d like to keep plants without the worry, consider areca palm, calathea, spider plant, bamboo palm, or African violets – all non-toxic to dogs and cats.
If your pet eats a toxic plant
• Stay calm and call your vet’s emergency number
• Clip a sample of the plant to take with you
• Do not induce vomiting unless your vet instructs you to
• Do not use ipecac or salt – these can cause additional harm
Be ready to tell your vet what was eaten, how much, and what symptoms you’ve observed.
Even if your pet seems fine initially, their condition can worsen as the toxin is metabolised – so don’t wait.
