Guarding your garden: Plants to avoid for dog safety

If you are a dog owner or plan to be one, you should know that certain plants threaten your pet's health and, in some cases, its life. Many of these plants are surprisingly popular and commonly found in households.

Many people around the world own dogs. However, not everyone knows that the plants kept in their homes or gardens can be hazardous to their pets. Dog owners should be informed from the beginning about which plants to avoid to prevent serious health problems for their animals.

Do you have many plants in your home, or do you often take your dog for walks in areas with lots of flowers? If so, you must be vigilant and ensure your dog does not eat any of them.

Let's start with cut flowers that are dangerous to dogs. These include carnations, lilies, tulips, dahlias, narcissi, daffodils, lilies of the valley, and gladioli.

The same goes for potted plants, which contain substances that are harmful to animals. These include aloe, azalea, ivy, dracaena, fig tree, gardenia, yucca, philodendron, clivia, geranium, and spurge, also known as poinsettia.

In terms of garden plants, those to avoid if you have a dog include lavender, boxwood, hydrangea, hyacinth, chrysanthemum, chamomile, pelargonium, daisy, and wolfsbane.

If you love bouquets of cut flowers and garden plants, you don't have to give up on all of them. Some plants are not harmful to animals, so you can safely keep them at home or in your garden. They won't cause any digestive issues for your dog.

Gerberas, roses, and sunflowers, as well as African violets, palms, streptocarpus, zebra haworthia, peperomia, and echeveria, are considered safe for dogs.

Garden plants that are also safe include basil, cilantro, mallow, dill, lemon balm, nasturtium, golden timber bamboo, cornflower, camellia, and calendula.

It is worth noting that orchids commonly found in most homes do not threaten dogs' health. However, preparations used as plant protection products can be harmful.