Everyone strives for happiness in their life. Anything that can help us to do this is welcome within our four walls. The lucky bamboo plant is said to be a particularly beautiful lucky charm. No question, her unusual sight awakens joy in us and who knows, maybe she actually brings luck. But what about the ingredients that lie dormant inside? These are said to be poisonous and especially dangerous for children, dogs and cats.
No bamboo plant
The lucky bamboo looks very similar to bamboo poles, but it is still not a bamboo plant. Perhaps the fact that it is a widespread good luck charm in the bamboo homeland of Asia also earned it this name. Dracaena braunii, as its botanical name is, has African roots and comes from the family of dragon trees. It is also known as the serpentine line because of its numerous decorative trunk coils. Dragon trees are classified as slightly poisonous.
toxicity
This lucky plant contains saponins, which are among the secondary plant substances. Humans need these substances to keep their bodies healthy and ingest them regularly through plant-based food. For example, tomatoes, spinach and many other types of vegetables contain saponins.
Why this trace element can nevertheless become a toxic threat to humans and animals is due to its high concentration in Dracaena braunii, which is found throughout all parts of the plant. A higher dose than required reverses the positive effect.
Bitter taste as a deterrent
Lucky bamboo contains plenty of bitter substances, which give the plants a bitter taste. The temptation to eat a larger amount of it is therefore limited. An adult, rational person would not reach for it anyway or in good health would survive the effects unscathed.
The mere presence of the snake lily, on the other hand, could cause major problems for allergy sufferers and asthmatics. The situation with small children and free-roaming pets such as cats and dogs also looks alarming.
children
Small children like to explore the world with their sense of taste and therefore often put everything in their mouths that they can get their hands on. Since their taste buds are still developing, it is questionable how much the bitter taste would deter them from eating the snake lily. That being said, even a small dose has a negative effect on the small body. The following symptoms may occur after consumption:
- heavy salivation
- nausea and vomiting
- bloody diarrhea
If any of these symptoms appear, the child should be examined by a doctor immediately. It is best to take the whole plant or at least one leaf with you so that the doctor can correctly classify the symptoms and take appropriate countermeasures.
animals
Dogs and cats are always at risk from saponins, no matter how big the animals are and what their health condition is. Even the mere contact irritates their mucous membranes considerably. If the poison enters your body, the red blood cells are greatly reduced. Pets that have chewed on the lucky charm will soon show the following symptoms:
- heavy salivation
- vomiting and diarrhea
- cramps
- circulatory disorders
If one of these pets briefly nibbles on the lucky bamboo, there is no great danger to be feared. However, if he takes it hard or does it again and again at regular intervals, the amount of poison in his body increases and there are inevitably clear and visible symptoms of poisoning. Of course, body size also plays an important role here, because the smaller an animal is, the smaller the amounts required to trigger poisoning.
measures
Since no pet owner can use the symptoms to assess how much poison the animal has actually ingested and how serious the effect is, professional help is essential.
- Bring animal to the vet
- Take the plant or parts of it with you
- call the veterinary emergency service outside of office hours
- discuss next steps
tip: If there is still plant debris in the animal's mouth, you should carefully remove it, put it in a plastic bag and take it with you to the vet.
Prevent
Since the wavy line only slightly toxic is, it does not have to be banished from the house altogether. However, if babies and small children live in the household, caution is urgently required. It may not be enough to place the plant out of reach. If leaves fall from her, they can become an easily accessible hazard.
- do not take any unnecessary risks
- do without lucky bamboo altogether
- there are enough non-toxic plants as an alternative
For older children who are open to education, there is nothing wrong with cultivating lucky bamboo.
Helpful precautions in animal households
If dogs or house cats are kept that can move freely in the rooms unsupervised, the risk of poisoning is high.
- Animals curiously explore the entire environment
- like to nibble on plants
- Cats can also reach tall plants
The natural instinct that would discourage the animal from eating unfamiliar plants is largely atrophied in domestic animals. If you do not have the opportunity to place the lucky bamboo in a room that is inaccessible to animals, you must keep them away from the plant.
- train dogs accordingly
- Introduce snake lily as a forbidden area
- deal with the animal and buy toys
- Cats are less obedient
- here the renunciation of this plant can be appropriate
In particular, keep an eye on small puppies and young kittens. They are very playful and curious and will nibble on everything.
They also often disregard the instructions of the owner.