Any pet owner will know that certain foods and plants can be a costly trip to the vet - or worse - if eaten by our four-legged friends.
While most people are aware of the common culprits - chocolate, garlic and grapes, to name a few - did you know that aloe vera can also be poisonous to your furry friends?
Yes, despite being a medicinal remedy for a whole host of human ailments, it turns out the popular plant contains toxins that can cause vomiting and a lack of appetite in cats and dogs.
That doesn't mean you have to throw your aloe in the bin, of course, but just make sure it is up high and out of reach of your furry BFF.
Advert
When it comes to selecting houseplants for your home, experts from Flowercard have revealed a few other types that can be harmful to pets.
Liam Lapping from Flowercard said: "Houseplants are a great way to bring the outdoors into your home and they can provide an endless number of benefits for you and your pets.
"With that being said, it's extremely important you understand which variety of plants are pet-friendly and which ones can do more harm than good."
One of those to keep in mind is dieffenbachia - a plant that is a popular choice due to its low level of maintenance.
Advert
However, dieffenbachia is commonly known as 'dumb cane' as it contains a toxic sap that causes irritation when ingested.
With this in mind, it can lead to severe side effects including burning and vomiting and therefore isn't ideal to have around pets.
Another is the jade plant - aka the 'money plant' - which has a long life span and, similarly to 'dumb cane', it doesn't need large amounts of attention.
But if you have a pet it's best to avoid this variety or at the very least keep it away from them - if they eat it, they'll likely experience nausea and retching.
Advert
For more info on this topic, Dogs Trust recently released a list of all the plants and flowers that can be harmful and in some cases fatal to your canine companion.
As well as certain houseplants, it's also important for owners to be extra careful with avocados, apricot kernels, foxgloves, bluebells, elderberries and buttercups, all of which come with their own set of risks.
If you're feeling a little overwhelmed, don't fret - the animal charity put together a handy alphabetical directory of all the harmful plants and flowers which you can view here.
Advert
As for houseplants, even if you do have the harmful varieties, just ensure they are far out of reach - good luck if you have a Great Dane!
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Pets, plants, Cats, Dogs