If you have houseplants and a dog sharing the same home, it's worth knowing which plants are actually safe to have around. Some of the most common houseplants, pothos, philodendron, and snake plant among them, aren't fully dog-safe, even though they're some of the most widely sold plants out there.
Here's a rundown of the common ones, grouped by how big a deal they actually are, plus what to do if your dog gets into one. We're plant people first, so think of this as a helpful starting point rather than the final word. If you're genuinely worried about your dog right now, a vet or animal poison control is always the better call than a blog post.
TL;DR: Houseplants That are Toxic to Dogs
Some of the most popular houseplants, pothos, philodendron, sago palm, and a few others, aren't dog-safe, and how much that matters really depends on the plant. The ASPCA keeps a full searchable list if you want to check something that isn't covered below. We recommend always contacting your vet, pet poison control line ( ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435), or an expert if you suspect your pet has chewed or ingested any plant, just to be safe.
A Note From Soltech About Toxic Houseplants: Always Check with A Vet
Before we get into it: we're plant people, not veterinarians. This list is meant to give you a general sense of what's worth watching for, not to replace an actual vet or poison control line if your dog has already eaten something. If that's where you're at right now, skip down to the "What To Do If Your Dog Eats a Toxic Houseplant" section and give them a call first.
Common Houseplants That Aren't Dog-Safe
The Ones You Probably Already Have
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Golden Pothos (Devil's Ivy): one of the most common houseplants around, and also one of the most common ones dogs get into. Signs to watch out for are oral irritation like swelling, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
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Heartleaf Philodendron: closely related to pothos, and the reaction is similar. This is because small crystals (called raphides) exist in the leaves, stems, and stalks of the plant and are released into your pet's mouth when chewed on, causing irritation.
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Snake Plant: contains saponins, which are toxic to dogs, snake plants can cause an upset stomach if your dog eats enough of it. Keep an eye out for nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
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ZZ Plant: although the ASPCA says the severity of chewing a ZZ plant is typically low, it's important to note that it depends on how much has been ingested and large exposure means more chance of a severe reaction. Pay attention to your pet and look for head shaking and pawing at the mouth, it's usually a sign of irritation and pain.
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Monstera: also known as the "Swiss Cheese Plant" and part of the same plant family as pothos and philodendron, it comes with the same mouth irritation, excessive drooling, and vomiting risk.
The Ones Worth Knowing About
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Sago Palm: this one's a bit different from the rest of the list in terms of severity, and is highly toxic, so it's best kept out of the house entirely if you have a dog around. Sago Palm contains cycasin, a carcinogenic and neurotoxic chemical, that can cause organ failure and internal hemorrhaging, among other severe symptoms.
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True Lilies (Asiatic lilies, Tiger lilies, Trumpet Lilies, etc.): more of a cat problem than a dog problem (they're genuinely dangerous for cats), but still worth keeping away from a curious dog.
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Aloe Vera: although the gel inside Aloe leaves is considered edible and generally safe for dogs, the white sap and plant material itself are highly irritating to the gastrointestinal tract according to PetMD. Diarrhea, vomiting, and lethargy are symptoms to watch for.
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Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane): similar to pothos, philodendron, and monstera species, these plants contain insoluble calcium oxalate and tiny crystals called raphides in the plant material that are both problematic and toxic to dogs. Excessive drooling, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, and oral irritation are common.
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Peace Lily: not actually a true lily, and the risk is closer to pothos: mild irritation, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing are common.
Less Common, But Worth Flagging
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Dracaena: contains saponins that can cause vomiting with blood, excessive salivation, depression, and anorexia.
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Jade Plant: can cause vomiting, depression, and wobbliness.
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English Ivy: can cause an upset stomach, vomiting, and other internal and external irritation. The ASPCA notes that the leaves are more toxic than the berries on the plant, but it's worth keeping out of reach from your dog just to be safe.
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Kalanchoe: in large amounts it can affect heart rhythm according to the ASPCA, though most cases are milder than that with upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea being the most common symptoms of ingestion.
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Asparagus Fern: skin irritation, allergic dermatitis, is common with repeated exposure so it's best to keep curious noses away from this one. If your dog eats the berries of the plant, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea are possible.
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Chinese Evergreen: mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting, similar to pothos.
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Calla Lily: also mouth irritation and similar symptoms. Despite the name, it isn't a true lily either.
Quick Reference Table: Common Houseplants Toxic to Dogs
| Plant | Scientific Name | Most Common Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Pothos (Devil's Ivy) | Epipremnum aureum | Oral irritation and swelling, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing |
| Heartleaf Philodendron | Philodendron hederaceum | Oral irritation, drooling, vomiting |
| Snake Plant | Dracaena trifasciata | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea |
| ZZ Plant | Zamioculcas zamiifolia | Head shaking, pawing at the mouth, oral irritation |
| Monstera | Monstera deliciosa | Mouth irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting |
| Sago Palm | Cycas revoluta | Vomiting, organ failure, internal hemorrhaging |
| True Lilies | Lilium spp. | Upset stomach in dogs |
| Aloe Vera | Aloe barbadensis | Diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy |
| Dieffenbachia | Dieffenbachia seguine | Excessive drooling, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, oral irritation |
| Peace Lily | Spathiphyllum wallisii | Mild irritation, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing |
| Dracaena | Dracaena marginata | Vomiting (sometimes with blood), excessive salivation, depression, anorexia |
| Jade Plant | Crassula ovata | Vomiting, depression, wobbliness |
| English Ivy | Hedera helix | Upset stomach, vomiting, internal and external irritation |
| Kalanchoe | Kalanchoe blossfeldiana | Upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea |
| Asparagus Fern | Asparagus setaceus | Skin irritation, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea |
| Chinese Evergreen | Aglaonema commutatum | Mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting |
| Calla Lily | Zantedeschia aethiopica | Mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting |
What To Do If Your Dog Eats a Toxic Houseplant
Try not to panic, most cases turn out fine. Take a look at what's left of the plant so you know roughly what you're dealing with, then call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.
Skip the home remedies until someone with actual training tells you it's a good idea. And if anything seems off, like trouble breathing or unusual lethargy, it's always worth checking in with a vet rather than waiting to see how it goes.
Building a Collection You Don't Have to Worry About
You don't have to memorize this list or give up on plants you love. If you'd rather start from a place where everything is already dog-safe, our guides to 15 Pet Safe Houseplants for Homes With Cats and Dogs and A Dog's Best Friend: Your Guide to Safe, Low-Maintenance Houseplants are both great places to start.
You can also browse Soltech's full pet-friendly plant guide to filter by what's safe before you buy anything new.
The Bottom Line
You don't need to get rid of your plants because you have a dog. It's really just about knowing which ones to keep up high or skip altogether.
And if something does happen, a quick call to your vet or animal poison control beats guessing every time.
