The snake plant is one of the most popular plants in the world. Advanced and rookie gardeners love to grow this plant in their houses and gardens because it adds a unique appearance to any space and does not require much care. Snake plant is also known for their capacity to purify the air. But, If you’re a pet owner, you may wonder if snake plant is safe for your furry friend or not?
After all, you don’t want to inadvertently harm your pet.
In this article, we will talk about 4 kinds of pets, namely, dogs, cats, birds, and chameleons, and see if the snake plant is safe for each. So, read on if you want to know whether you can keep your snake plant near your pet or if you must keep it away.
Generally, houseplants can be poisonous to pets if they ingest them. Common houseplants toxic to pets include lilies, aloe vera, dieffenbachia, and philodendron. Symptoms of plant poisoning in pets can include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, weakness, and tremors.
But for snake plants, some pets can ingest the plant without any problems, and others will have serious trouble if they swallow it. That’s why we decided to treat each pet apart.
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Are Snake Plants Toxic To Birds?
Snake plant is not toxic to birds. In fact, in 2012, Neiles Animal Hospital published a list of over 200 houseplants that are non-toxic to birds, and the snake plant is one of them. But this does not mean that you can keep the snake plant near your bird. In fact, birds may destroy your snake plant if they keep nibbling it.
When a bird grins on a snake plant, its saliva breaks down its cell walls. As a result, the plant starts releasing nutrients the bird can absorb. This process damages the plant, causing it to lose water and essential oils.
You can do a few things to keep your snake plant out of the reach of birds. One is to cover the plants with netting or cheesecloth. Another is to place them on a high shelf or in a hanging basket. Finally, you can spray the plants with bird repellent.
A bird repellent is a substance used to keep birds away from plants. There are many different bird repellents, but they all work by making the area around the plants less attractive to birds. This can be done by making the area smell, taste, or look bad. Some bird repellents are even designed to make loud noises that scare birds away.
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Is Snake Plant Safe for Chameleons?
Snake plant is not toxic for chameleons. In fact, many people used this plant in setting up enclosures for chameleons without any problem.
In addition to snake plant, there are a few different types of plants that work well in chameleon enclosures. Pothos and bromeliads are two common choices.
Pothos is a hardy plant that can tolerate a wide range of conditions, and bromeliads provide a good source of moisture for chameleons. Other good plant choices include ficus, hibiscus, and orchids.
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Are Snake Plants Toxic to Cats and Dogs?
Snake plant is toxic to cats and dogs. In fact, the ASPCA and Neiles Animal Hospital consider snake plants unhealthy for dogs and cats. As a result, we should keep our cats and dogs away from this plant.
If a dog chews or eats a snake plant, he may experience vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling. He may also have trouble breathing, and his heart rate may increase.
The snake plant is toxic to cats and dogs because it contains saponins, which are poisonous to them. Saponins are found in many plants, but they are mainly concentrated in the leaves of the snake plant. A dog or cat that ingests saponins can experience vomiting, diarrhea, and even death.
Saponins work by binding to cell membranes, causing them to rupture. This can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, which can be fatal for cats and dogs.
If your cat or dog ingests a snake plant leaf, you should call the APCC at (888) 426-4435. Also, if you have access to your local veterinarian, don’t hesitate to contact him as soon as possible. In such a case, if you don’t take action immediately, your pet may die.
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How To Keep Your Cats and Dogs Safe From a Snake Plant?
Keep Your Snake Plant out Of Reach
If you have a cat or a dog that likes to nibble on your snake plant, you can do a few things to keep them out of reach. First, try moving your plants to a higher shelf or windowsill where your pet can’t reach them.
A few places in the house are typically out of reach for pets, making them ideal locations to keep your snake plant. On top of a high shelf or cabinet is usually safe. A windowsill is too high for a cat or dog to jump up to.
If you have plants on the floor, you can put them on a plant stand or coffee table to make them more challenging to reach for pets.
Another way to keep plants out of the reach of pets is by placing them on high shelves or hanging baskets. This will help the plant grow best by preventing pets from knocking them over or chewing on them.
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Make the Smell Around Your Snake Plant Unpleasant for Your Pets
Sprinkle Blood Meal Around Your Snake Plant
One way to keep pets away from houseplants is to sprinkle blood meal around the base of the plant. A blood meal is a dried and powdered form of blood high in nitrogen. Pets are typically not attracted to plants treated with this substance.
A blood meal is also an organic fertilizer high in nitrogen and can be used to fertilize houseplants. It is a slow-release fertilizer that will provide nutrients to plants for several weeks.
You can also use blood meal as a mulch to help control weeds and retain moisture in the soil.
Make Good Use of The Strong Fragrance of Citrus Peels and Coffee Grounds
Citrus peels and coffee grounds can help keep pets away from snake plants because the smell of citrus is unpleasant to many animals, and the caffeine in coffee grounds has a strong fragrance that pets can not support.
Another benefit of using citrus peels and coffee grounds for snake plants is that they can help keep them healthy. Both of these products contain natural acids that can help kill off harmful bacteria and fungi that can cause plant problems.
In addition, coffee grounds can help improve the drainage of potting soil and provide a boost of nitrogen to plants.
Citrus peels can also help keep the leaves of plants shiny and add a pleasant scent to the air.
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Use Repellent Sprays
Repellent sprays are a great way to keep pets away from snake plants. By spraying the leaves of your snake plant, the pet will be less likely to approach it and will be less likely to damage the plant.
Repellent sprays help also keep pets away from houseplants because they contain ingredients that are unpleasant to them.
Most repellents contain citronella or peppermint oil, which have strong scents that animals and pests find offensive. When applied to the leaves of plants, these oils create a barrier that pets will avoid.
Give Your Pets Safe Toys
Toys that are safe for pets help keep them away from houseplants. In fact, pets can be attracted to houseplants because they are often green and leafy, which looks like something they could chew on. But, if you give your pets some safe toys to chew, you will have more probability to keep them away from houseplants and prevent them from ingesting any poisonous plants.
Put Stones Around Your Plant (This Will Work Best with Cats)
One way to protect pets from snake plants is to put stones around them. The rocks will prevent pets from jumping over to get to the plants. This will deter many pets from getting to the plants and help keep them safe.
Putting stones around the plant is one of the most effective ways to keep cats away from houseplants. Cats don’t like the feel of rocks on their paws, so they avoid stepping on them. This will protect your plants from being scratched or knocked over by curious cats.
Train Your Pets (This Will Work Best with Dogs)
One of the best ways to keep pets away from snake plants, especially dogs, is by training them using positive reinforcement. This means rewarding your pet when it stays away from the plants and ignoring it when it doesn’t.
Eventually, your pet will learn that it gets attention and treats when he stays away from the plants alone and will be less likely to bother them.
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