Houseplant Hazards

ALOE VERA The latex in aloe vera leaves is mildly to moderately toxic to dogs and cats. When pets eat the yellow inner skin, it commonly causes diarrhea because of the anthraquinone glycosides it contains. Other symptoms include severe dehydration, vomiting, changes in urine color, lethargy, depression and anorexia. DIEFFENBACHIA Chewing on dieffenbachia causes immediate pain and swelling in pets’ mouths because of the calcium oxalate crystals in the plant tissue. Other symptoms include drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, respiratory distress and pawing at the mouth. Extreme cases can be fatal, so consult poison control or a vet promptly. JADE PLANT Another poisonous succulent, jade can cause upset digestive systems in dogs and cats. Symptoms can include lethargy, vomiting, depression and stumbling. Usually it’s not serious, though, and they’ll get better on their own. Other succulents…