Puppy-Proofing Your Home: Protect Your Pups from Poisonous Plants
Poisonous Plants…How can my beautiful and precious babies be toxic???
Well, some of them are!
If you follow me on social media, you know we got a new puppy.
Yes, a second dog. (My husband’s idea!).
It’s like we forgot what it’s like to have a baby and we are doing it all over again…WHY????
I am exhausted!
It truly feels like going back to the baby years, except that I don’t have the energy for that any more. I don’t even want that; been there, done that!
I am up once or twice every night, then up again at 6:00 in the morning to start a jam packed day, full of kids’ activities, (because it’s summer and the schools are closed too!!!! Yay!).
So, I basically live on coffee and wine, like any other desperate mother.
Anyway, her name is Luna, which means “moon”. She’s white like the moon.
She’s incredibly cute, which is very good for her because otherwise, she might have ended up out the window a few times!!
I remember going through the same feelings, emotions, routines, and second guessings five years ago, when we brought home our first dog Rufus.
He’s my side-kick now. I love him to pieces and can’t imagine not having him in our lives. I hope I will soon feel the same for this little new puppy, who poops and pees a lot in the house, bites a ton, but most of all, chews my plants!!!!
Lucky for you, all this has given me the superpower to puppy-proof my home to protect my plants, …ahem…, I mean, my puppy from poisonous threats.
After a few years of Plant Blogging and many years of Plant Parenting, I know exactly which plants are poisonous, and which ones are non-toxic and safe for pets.
Yet again, even those safe plants, need protection!
For example, Pileas are safe for pets but I really don’t want my puppy to chew its beautiful leaves.
So, I had to be smart about placement, but also about the products I bought to deter Luna from chewing on plants and other things around the house.
Follow my steps along!
Meet our puppies: Rufus is five years old and Luna is 10 weeks old in this picture.
They are both West Highland White Terriers.
Here’s Luna munching on the Pilea leaves she “pruned” with her puppy teeth. (Thankfully, the Chinese Money Plant is non-toxic to pets).
puppy proofing the house
Puppy proofing the house is the first step to take when you are welcoming a new puppy into your home.
It’s not very different from child-proofing.
The only difference is that in this case, you are protecting not only your puppy, but also your plants, furniture, clothes, rugs, shoes, and more. Oh, and your sanity as well!
You would think that after having a puppy I’d know what to do…
Well, for the most part, I knew I needed a kennel and a play pen. However, I didn’t anticipate the extent of disruption to my plants and everything else!
I had to experience some challenges to truly learn, and now I am sharing my knowledge with you.
play pens and kennels
Playpens and kennels are fundamental to have.
They serve as safe havens for dog moms, allowing them to take a break from the action, while providing puppies with a place to rest, regroup and sleep.
Both playpens and kennels are beneficial for both the puppy and their human.
We primarily use the playpen during the day. We place Luna in it when we need to leave the house without having to confine her to the kennel. It’s also handy when I can’t supervise her or when she takes daytime naps.
We positioned the playpen in the part of the Living Room without the rug. After an incident on the first day, where she chewed off an entire side of my Pilea plant, I am now careful to ensure that all sides of the playpen are away from plants, or anything she can pull through the bars and chew on.
Her kennel is kept in one of our bedrooms as we take turns having her at night.
I made sure we selected a playpen and kennel that fold flat, making it easy for us to fit them in the car when we travel to the lake on weekends.
In the back you can see the black metal play pen we have in the living room. This is where we place Luna to have quiet times, naps, and when we leave the house. (We only keep her inside the kennel to sleep at night).
This play pen is very handy because it can be folded flat and packed to go to the lake.
We bought Rufus this kennel five years ago and I am sure glad we kept it for Luna because it is very handy! We go to the lake weekly and this kennel is incredibly easy to fold and pack flat into our vehicle, (it’s our 11 years old daughter’s job’s)!
We bought the bed to match the size of the kennel so that she can be comfortable in it.
re-arranging plants and furniture
Your puppy will have plenty of free time. Even if you think you will supervise it at all times, there will be split second moments when it will sneak away and tear a chunk off one of your precious plant’s leaves.
Those leaves may be non-toxic or poisonous.
You need to know this!
It is really important, as it can make your puppy really sick! Keep reading this Blog to find out which plants your puppy needs to avoid and which ones are safe.
Regardless, you need to protect your plants as well! Some plants may be safe for them, but why let those puppy teeth ruin them?
You need to be strategic with your placements.
I have over 100 plants in our home, so it took me a while to figure this out and shuffle them all around.
I am not pleased aesthetically with the results, but al least, both the puppy and plants are now safe.
Some of your furnishings and decor pieces may need to be moved around or stored away for a few months as well.
Rugs corners are very attractive for puppies. You can either roll those rugs away for the time being or you can use transparent duck tape to firmly tape and cover the corners down to the floor.
For other furniture pieces you can’t move, you can use spray deterrent, (more on this below).
I had to move my Pileas from plant stands to pony walls in order to avoid further “puppy pruning”.
I had to replace the Pileas by the window with upright plants, such as the Pencil Cactus, (highly poisonous, but too high to reach), and a Peace Lily.
deterring chewing precious plants & objects
There are always some “attractive” furnishings and plants that you can’t move.
For example, I have a giant Norfolk Pine I cannot relocated anywhere else.
Likewise, the legs of the dining table, or the skirt of the couch. Puppy loves to chew on them all.
So what do I do?
I spray them with a deterrent spray. It works really well.
When Rufus was a puppy we weren’t aware of deterrent sprays and he really loved to chew his bed and pull out all its stuffing. We resorted to rubbing cayenne pepper on the bed corners. Surprisingly, it worked!!
With Luna we bought the Bitter Yuck spray. I chose this spray because I can use it on plants, which is critical for me!
It works effectively and requires occasional re-application. It adheres to all surfaces, including fabric, without staining or discolouring! Plus, it’s completely safe for your puppy.
If you are interested in natural homemade remedies that do not involve spicy ingredients, consider this:
Mix one part white vinegar with two parts apple cider vinegar into a spray bottle, shake it, and apply to the areas your puppy is chewing on. This is a good option for furniture but it may damage your plants.
Photo Credit: Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash
We used cayenne pepper on Rufus when he was a puppy and it worked really well. However, if your dog has the tendency to chew a lot, you’ll have to rub a lot of red powder all over your house, which is not always the best options for fabrics and upholstery.
We use this spray deterrent for our puppy Luna. It works quite well and it keeps her away from rugs, furniture, and plants!
I like this product because it can be used on plants without damaging them.
know your plants!
With a little puppy around the house, it is important to know which plants are safe for it to munch on, (if you really can’t avoid it).
Below are three lists of plants; Poisonous, Non-Toxic and Non-Toxic Succulents.
poisonous plants
These are the Poisonous Plants your puppy needs to avoid.
I’ve written a detailed article about these plants, so if you want more info, click here.
For now, this is what you need to know.
PENCIL CACTUS
(Euphorbia Tirucalli)
Toxic Part(s): Sap
This Pencil Cactus milky sap is extremely toxic and irritating to the skin. Exposure can even cause blindness. Skin contact with the Pencil Cactus sap can cause severe irritation, redness and a burning feeling.
If ingested it can cause burning of the mouth, lips and tongue, and vomiting.
DEVIL'S IVY
(Epipremnum Aureum)
Toxic Part(s): all parts
The Pothos’ leaves and stems can cause a severe burning irritation of the mouth, throat and stomach in humans if ingested.
It can cause a severe burning irritation of the mouth, throat and stomach, as well as excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing in dogs if ingested.
HEARTLEAF PHILODENDRON
(Philodendron Hederaceum)
Toxic Part(s): all parts
The Heartleaf Philodendron leaves and stems can cause irritation, swelling and pain of mouth, lips, and throat. Skin irritation can be severe. It may block breathing or swallowing in humans if ingested.
It can cause a severe burning irritation of the mouth, throat and stomach, as well as excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing in dogs if ingested.
PEACE LILY
(Spathiphyllum)
Toxic Part(s): all parts
The Peace Lily’s leaves and stems can cause a severe burning irritation of the mouth, throat and stomach in humans if ingested.
It can cause a severe burning irritation of the mouth, throat and stomach, as well as excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing in cats and dogs if ingested.
ZZ PLANT
(Zamioculcas Zamiifolia)
Toxic Part(s): Saponins
The ZZ Plant’s leaves and sap can cause nausea, diarrhea and vomiting in humans, cats and dogs if ingested.
ALOE VERA
(Aloe Barbadensis Miller)
Toxic Part(s): sap in large quantities
The Aloe Vera’s sap can possible cause diarrhea in humans and vomiting in cats and dogs if ingested.
The topical use of Aloe Vera in small concentrations is not associated with any significant side effects.
JADE PLANT
(Crassula Ovata)
Toxic Part(s): unknown.
The Jade Plant’s leaves and stems can cause vomiting, depression and incoordination in cats and dogs if ingested.
SNAKE PLANT
(Dracaena Trifasciata)
Toxic Part(s): saponins
The Snake Plant’s leaves can cause nausea, diarrhea and vomiting in cats and dogs if ingested.
BIRDS OF PARADISE
(Strelitzia Nicolai)
Toxic Part(s): all parts, with the flower being the most poisonous.
The Strelitzia’s leaves and stems are mildly toxic in humans and only after ingesting a large amount of it. The ingestion of flowers and seeds can cause dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea and drowsiness in humans.
ENGLISH IVY
(Hedera Helix)
Toxic Part(s): leaves and berries.
The English Ivy’s leaves and berries can cause mouth, throat, stomach irritation, and possibly nausea, vomiting and diarrhea in humans if ingested.
It can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and hyper-salivation in cats and dogs if ingested.
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non-toxic plants
These are the best non-toxic plants I recommend to all pet owners, whether they have puppies, dogs, or cats.
I wrote a Blog specific to Non-Toxic Plants Safe for Children and Pets, where you can find more details.
SPIDER PLANT
(Cholorophytum Colosum)
The Spider Plant is not only a non-toxic houseplant; it’s one of the most versatile plants you can have. It has all the benefits you can think of; it’s extremely easy to care for, (basically impossible to kill), it does well in low light areas of your home or office, and it’s an excellent air purifier.
Photo Credit: rePotme
AFRICAN VIOLET
(Saintpaulia)
The African Violet is a relatively easy to care for non-toxic houseplant once you’ve got watering figured out.
It comes in all sort of beautiful colours and variegations and it blooms all year round if proper lighting is provided.
Its fuzzy leaves and flowers make it very attractive!
BIRD'S NEST FERN
(Asplenium Nidus)
The Bird’s Nest Fern differs quite significantly from all other ferns in terms of foliage shape, light and watering requirements.
This is definitely a great plant for those homes that don’t have a lot of bright light.
It is also great for forgetful people, as this plant will let you know when it’s thirsty by drooping its leaves.
TRAILING JADE
(Peperomia Rotundifolia)
This easy to care for non-toxic houseplant is not a succulent, as many are led to believe due to their thick and fleshy leaves.
If you enjoy propagating plants, the Trailing Jade is relatively easy to propagate by either leaf or branch cut.
HOLIDAY CACTUS
(Schlumbergera)
The Schlumbergera is one of my favourite non-toxic houseplants.
This plant is a succulent, so don’t let the “Holiday” name trick you into believing that it is only a seasonal plant. Even though this plant is only sold around Christmas time, it can bloom up to three times per year!
WAX PLANT
(Hoya Carnosa)
The Wax Plant is an excellent non-toxic plant, safe for children and pets, despite its succulent leaves.
The Hoya Carnosa isn’t technically a succulent. It’s a succulent-like plant.
Wax Plants are extremely easy to propagate by simply cutting the stems and allowing them to grow roots into water.
PARLOR PALM
(Chamaedorea Elegans)
Parlor Palms come in all different sizes and grow quite slowly so that you can pick the right size for your purpose or space.
A tall Parlor Palm in a corner of your Living Room or Study adds a great deal of tropical feel to the space and brightens up the room greatly!
BABY RUBBER PLANT
(Peperomia Obtusifolia)
This is a quite easy to care for non-toxic houseplant with interestingly shaped, shiny and deep green leaves.
Some people allow them to trail, while others grow them on cute trellises.
ORCHID
(Phalaenopsis Orchid)
These plants, like many epiphytes, thrive on high humidity and little watering, so a Sealed Terrarium is the perfect environment for it.
I placed the plastic perforated tray in which Orchids come in, into a base of water filled pebbles inside an Apothecary Jar and closed it with the lid, (great way to keep children and pets away from it!).
CHINESE MONEY PLANT
(Pilea Peperomioides)
The Pilea is a very easy non-toxic houseplant to care for.
This is a great plant to have if you love to experiment with propagation. It produces a lot of offsets, (new plant shoots), that you can cut off from the mother plant and use to make new plants for yourself or your friends!
non-toxic succulents
Last, but not least, we have the non-toxic succulents.
Many individuals are deeply interested in succulents and cacti.
These options stand as the best choices to ensure your puppy’s safety at all times.
I’ve written a Blog about Succulents Safe For Pets. Click here to read more details.
HOLIDAY CACTUS
(Schlumbergera)
As previously mentioned, the lovely Holiday cactus, whether it’s a Thanksgiving Cactus or a a Christmas Cactus, is widely available for purchase around Christmas time, (when it generally is in full bloom), but it is harder, if not impossible to find off-season, which is really too bad!
PONYTAIL PALM
(Beaucarnea Recurvata)
Ponytail Palms are excellent succulents safe for puppies!
Did you even know Ponytail Palms were succulents? I ask this question every time I write about it!
It is a succulent that live in tropical climates, but that adapts to any home conditions.
You just can’t kill this plant, unless you abandon your home!
It also needs little water to survive.
ZEBRA HAWORTHIA
(Haworthia)
The Zebra Haworthia is one of the cutest among the succulents safe for pets.
I call mine the “little green flame”. It gives it a bit of character!
Haworthia’s are extremely easy to care for and extremely hard to kill.
BURRO'S TAIL
(Sedum Morganianum)
The Burro’s Tail is one of your best options for trailing and hanging succulents safe for cats.
This is where you can get creative and find a great container to hang from a wall or ceiling. It will help you enhance the look of your space by adding some green to your walls!
Both types can be grown outdoors and indoors, depending on where you live.
ECHEVERIA
(Echeveria Elegans)
Echeverias are incredible succulents and they appeal to so many people not only for their ease of maintenance, but for their beauty too. Their geometry, colours and flowers are fascinating and hypnotic.
Echeverias need particular light conditions to grow properly and avoid the typical long and leggy growth.
If you are ever in doubt about the toxicity of any of your plants, check out the ASPCA website. They have a complete list of plants and their level of toxicity for cats, dogs and even horses!
I hope you’ve enjoyed the read and that you’ve learned something helpful from it!
Disclosure: This Blog contains affiliate links, which means I will make a commission at no cost to you, if you make a purchase after clicking my link.
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