From beautifying one’s home naturally to serving as healthy food sources, plants serve various functions. However, dog parents have the added responsibility of understanding what plants are safe for their canine friends. Certain plants generally safe for humans can prove fatal to dogs. While some plants may have such detrimental effects upon ingestion, even exposure to others may induce such effects in dogs. Here are some plants that can be toxic to your pooch:

Sago palm
Resembling a mini palm tree, this plant is often grown indoors as well as outdoors in homes and offices. However, ingesting the sago palm’s leaves, barks, nuts, or seeds can lead to detrimental effects among dogs, including diarrhea, liver failure, and seizures.

Garlic
While garlic is highly nutritious for humans, it can irritate dogs’ gastrointestinal tracts and cause severe adverse reactions, including vomiting and diarrhea. It also damages their red blood cells and should be kept out of their reach at all times.

Onion
Ingestion of onion can also damage dogs’ gastrointestinal tracts and cause severe digestion issues. Thus, onion in all forms, including cooked, raw, and powdered, should be kept away from dogs.

Alocasia
This visually appealing plant with wide, dark-green leaves is a favorite among homeowners. However, the plant contains calcium oxalate crystals, which can lead to severe irritation in dogs and cause shortness of breath. Dogs having accidentally ingested any part of this plant should be taken to the vet immediately.

Daffodil
These beautiful flowers can cause severe reactions among dogs, including intestinal spasms, diarrhea, and low blood pressure. In severe cases, dogs may also suffer from cardiac arrhythmia upon ingesting this flowering plant.

Dumb cane
Even exposure to this plant can trigger serious health conditions in dogs, including gagging, diarrhea, vomiting, and coughing. Thus, pet parents must avoid purchasing this plant or taking their dogs to places where it is grown.

Citrus plants
Although certain citrus fruits may be harmless to dogs, some parts of citrus plants, such as lemon and orange peels, leaves, and stems, can cause adverse effects in dogs and should be avoided.

Tomatoes
Ripe tomatoes entail several health benefits for dogs and are even included in many readymade dog foods. However, unripe tomatoes and other parts of the tomato plant can cause detrimental effects among dogs, including an upset stomach, weakness, and pupil dilation.

Peppermint
Like other tree oils such as eucalyptus and wintergreen, peppermint can be fatal to dogs, causing poisoning symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and even depression. Thus, dog parents must be careful not to expose dogs to any tree oils and tree-oil plants.

Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a healing plant for humans; however, it can be highly toxic to dogs, entailing side effects like vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and even comatose in some cases. Thus, it is important to place aloe vera plants and their by-products, such as aloe vera gel, away from dogs.

Besides plant toxicity, dogs can also face several other health issues, allergies, etc., during their lives. For example, flea and tick allergies can cause symptoms like changes in the dog’s voice, loss of appetite, coughing, and severe itching. In such cases, flea and tick treatments should be administered to dogs following consultations with a vet.