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Originating from tropical Asia, the ivy is a popular houseplant. This evergreen plant from the arum family is available in several varieties. It lives as a climbing plant and forms heart-shaped leaves and the characteristic aerial roots. Due to its low demands for light, water and fertilizer, it usually thrives even with people without green thumbs. As tempting as this undemanding sounds, you should be very careful when using it, especially in households with children or pets.
toxicity
Chemical information on the ingredients
Did you know that all arum plants, and therefore also ivy, contain toxins? From the giant titan arum to the spear leaves popular in aquaristics, you should always be careful when touching aroids. Every part of the plant can be fatal to you, so it is best to enjoy the beauty of these plants from afar.
For pets
Efeututes are poisonous to all pets. This applies to dogs, cats, small animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, etc…) and birds.
The same applies to small animals as to babies:
As soon as the pots are placed at higher locations, the plant saps no longer pose a threat to these animals. In the case of birds, it is only necessary to ensure that the plant is moved to another room before a free flight.
dogs and cats
The procedure for dogs and cats is not so simple. Cats in particular tend to like to chew on indoor plants. In addition, they can easily reach practically every corner of an apartment, right down to high cupboards. In terms of the health of your pets, you should therefore refrain from caring for ivy in a cat household.
Some dogs also like to chew on plants or jump on furniture, although both behaviors are not nearly as common as in cats. Ultimately, you know your animal companion best and can decide whether or not he likes plants. But if you have even the slightest doubt, then you should also remove any ivy from the shared apartment in this case.
toxin
The arum family has high levels of calcium oxalate, a salt of oxalic acid. While both compounds are found in almost all plants and therefore in our food, it is the high concentration in this family that makes them toxic to humans and animals. The pungent substance aroin, which is even named after them, can also be found in the arum family.
toxic effect
mode of action of the poison
When it comes into contact with the skin, the sap triggers skin irritation and inflammation. Swallowing plant parts has a much worse effect. The following symptoms then become noticeable in both humans and animals.
- nausea
- Vomit
- diarrhea
- headache
- tachycardia
- dizziness
- to fainting in particularly severe cases
Depending on the amount ingested, weight and previous illnesses of the patient, the symptoms of poisoning can have different degrees of severity. While taking a healthy adult has a rather mild effect, ivy can be very dangerous, especially for babies and small pets.
First aid
First aid for signs of poisoning
children
If you, your children or your pets have come into contact with the plant sap of the ivy, consult a doctor immediately. Depending on the severity of the poisoning, the following telephone numbers are important for initial contact.
- From Germany: Poison Center Bonn 0228 / 19 240
- From Austria: Poison Information Center 01 /406 4343
- From Switzerland: Tox Info Suisse 145
- International euro emergency number: 112
On the phone, be sure to mention which plant (Efeutute or Epipremnum) it is, who is affected (age, weight, previous illnesses), when and how much has already been taken and what symptoms are visible. In any case, keep calm!
animals
In the case of poisoning of pets, please contact your veterinarian immediately.
plant care
Be careful when caring for plants
The ivy is particularly popular because it is easy to care for and easy to reproduce. Even simple cuttings can be used to grow new plants quickly. But there is also a not insignificant danger here.
- Note that ivy is poisonous in ALL parts of the plant!
In particular, the sap should be avoided. Contact with the skin or even ingestion of the plant sap or parts of the plant can lead to health problems. So always wear gloves when caring for the plants.
Precautions
Precautions to avoid poisoning
If you still do not want to do without ivy in the household with animals and children, then please make sure that they cannot come into contact with the plants. Place the pot in an inaccessible place, preferably high up or in rooms that are not accessible to animals or children.
Always remove fallen leaves immediately. Also make sure that no liquid drips from the leaves. This is not water, but the poisonous plant sap. This can be fatal, especially for babies who are crawling. Don't forget that babies like to put everything in their mouths. Due to its low weight, however, the ivy is particularly poisonous for them.
aquaristics
Efeututen in aquaristics
After all the bad news, there is one more positive property of the Efeutute that should be mentioned at the end. Experienced aquarists like to use this plant, which all other pet owners tend to shy away from. Pots of ivy are placed over open tanks to allow aerial roots to protrude into the aquarium. These make a significant contribution to improving the water quality, and in a purely biological way. The plant juices are not dangerous for fish in this constellation.
However, the following also applies here:
If there are other pets or children in the same household, you should pay attention to the above information or, if in doubt, refrain from caring for ivy rats altogether.
Sources:
http://www.gizbonn.de/285.0.html
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efeutute
https://www.botanikus.de/Botanik3/Ordnung/Efeutute/efeutute.html