House plants and pets sometimes do not mix very well. If you love to have your home in bloom all year around, then you need to be careful about the plants you select if you intend to also keep a pet. Some plants can make pets ill if they eat the leaves some can even be fatal.

There are plants that are relatively safe for animals, you just need to do a little research before you buy. Choose only plants that are relatively free from insects, and that are in good condition. Try to buy only from nurseries that do not use pesticides, or at least that try to use as little pesticide as possible.

Extra caution is required since many common species that you may assume to be pet friendly plants are actually potentially harmful to animals. There is a large number of plants, actually more than eighty varieties of common plants, shrubs, and trees that are potentially harmful to your pets. Popular and attractive plants such as lilies, tulip and narcissus bulbs, azaleas, rhododendrons and yew are actually harmful for your pets. If a pet chews on the branches, stems or roots of plants like these, then they can suffer some rather unpleasant symptoms.

Seasonal Decorations Aren't Always Pet Friendly

Pet friendly plants are a welcome addition both inside and outside of the house. They add grace and beauty, and serve the purposes of making a house a home, but it is important to ensure that they are not harmful in any way. Warning: Do not grow any member of the chili pepper family if you have pets. The reason this may be harmful for your pets is that they all contain capsicum, the chemical that makes peppers hot, and which is an irritant to skin and eyes.

The holiday season can be a dangerous time for animals too. Holly, while attractive to humans, can make animals ill if eaten in large quantities. Mistletoe is also bad for pets causing nausea, diarrhea, and sometimes hallucinations and even death. If you have a pet, take extra care and use fake plastic mistletoe instead of the real thing.

Try not to grow thorny or spiny plants if you have pets, as these can cause injury. Also, keep your pet away from indoor lime trees as their foliage contains terpene.

The best thing to do would be to keep plants high up, away from pets or not have them at all if your pet likes to try to jump or climb.

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