Decorating Your Home for Fall
While Keeping it Safe for Fido & Fifi

Summer is quickly drawing to a close and you are invigorated by the cooler weather and the urge to spruce up your house. House plants can bring a bit of color to an otherwise dull area, they can help cleanse the air and they are often a sign of hope as the daylight hours become shorter.

As you begin your fall decorating be mindful of your pets. Many plants might look beautiful, but can have adverse effects on your pet's health. Some can even be deadly.  Be especially careful if your pet is very inquisitive and likely to ingest anything that appears interesting.

Toxic plants

Here are some toxic houseplants that you should avoid if you have pets in your home:

  1. Aloe Vera
  2. Asparagus Fern
  3. Caladium (aka Elephant Ear)                                           
  4. Corn Plant
  5. Crassula Ovata (aka Jade Plant)
  6. Dieffenbachia
  7. Ivy
  8. Lillies (most varieties)
  9. Philodendron
  10. Pothos (aka Devils Ivy)
  11. Sago Palm
  12. ZZ Plant

Now that you know what to avoid, here is the good news! The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC)
has put together a handy list of 11 common house plants that are pet-friendly for your home and yard: 

1.     African Violet
2.     American Rubber Plant
3.     Blue Echeveria (Succulent)
4.     Boston Fern
5.     Cast Iron Plant
6.     Christmas Cactus
7.     Donkey’s Tail (Succulent)
8.     Gerbera Daisy
9.     Parlor Palm
10.   Phalaenopsis Orchid
11.   Spider Plant

Enjoy sprucing up your home for the new season while keeping your pets safe.

For more information check out the following websites:

 Toxic plants 2