Snake plants are common houseplants, grown for their exotic spear-like leaves and their nifty air purification qualities, but are snake plants toxic to dogs? While you seem to have found the perfect low maintenance, ultra-cool houseplant, did you perhaps neglect to consider if a snake plant is dog safe? Don’t fret but let’s dive right into it. Keep reading to see if a snake plant is poisonous to dogs.
Are Snake Plants Toxic to Dogs?
If you’re a houseplant fan as well as a dog owner, you probably know that some plants are poisonous to dogs, but are snake plants safe for them? Are snake plants toxic to dogs?
Unfortunately, the answer is yes, the snake plant is toxic to dogs.
Also called golden bird’s nest and mother-in-law's tongue, the snake plant contains compounds called saponins. Saponins are natural glycosides (sugars) that when combined with water produce a foam. Interestingly, they are also naturally occurring in fruit plants.
This foam, and its accompanying soapy texture, help to protect the plant from pests and disease; and apparently Fido’s questing chompers. When dogs chew on the leaves of the plant, they can exhibit gastric distress as well as other symptoms.
What Happens If a Dog Eats a Snake Plant?
As mentioned, the saponins contained in the snake plant result in gastric distress in dogs when they eat the leaves. Symptoms include drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea, as well as loss of appetite and lethargy.
Toxicity from snake plants can also cause lack of coordination like stumbling or weaving, and even changes in the dog’s heart rate and blood pressure.
And the toxins in snake plants don’t just affect dogs. They are also toxic to cats and horses.
How to Keep Dogs Safe Around Snake Plants
If you do have a dog, or really any indoor pets, it is better to err on the side of caution and place the snake plant at a level the animal can’t access it. If you have cats, that can be difficult! It might be better altogether if you gift your Sansevieria to a friend or relative that does not have pets.
What To Do If Your Dog Eats a Snake Plant
If your dog ingests some snake plant, don’t panic. First try to determine exactly how much they ate and if indeed the culprit is a snake plant.
Once you’ve verified that the plant is responsible for the dog’s illness, it’s time to load him/her into their crate and off to the veterinarian's office. Again, don’t panic. Rarely is the ingestion of a snake plant lethal. It usually only causes milder symptoms. Getting your dog to the vet quickly means the dog is at the right place for immediate treatment if needed.
For a complete listing of plants toxic to dogs, please visit: Cornell University: Poisonous Plants Affecting Dogs UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine: Pets and Toxic Plants
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a snake plant if I have a dog?
Not being the plant police, you can have whatever you want. That said, be aware that snake plant is indeed toxic to dogs (and cats) so it isn’t a very good idea to keep the plant. If you do want to keep a snake plant, be sure it is placed in an area the dog can’t reach. This is hard to do with cats, however.
How toxic are snake plants?
Snake plants are toxic enough to cause gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting, drooling, and diarrhea as well as disjointed gait and potential change in heart rate and blood pressure. It is very rare for the ingestion of the plant to result in death so it is termed toxic, not deadly.
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