As the days grow longer and everything begins to bloom, May is the perfect time to freshen up your home and yard with beautiful greenery. At Creekside Veterinary Hospital, we love seeing our community embrace the season—but we also want to make sure your pets stay safe while you do it.
This month, we’re focusing on pet-friendly plants, toxic plants to avoid, and smart landscaping choices that can even help reduce ticks and mosquitoes around your home.
🌿 Pet-Friendly Houseplants
If you’re looking to brighten your indoor spaces without putting your pets at risk, these plants are great choices:
- Spider Plant – Easy to care for and safe for both dogs and cats
- Areca Palm – A lush, tropical look without toxicity concerns
- Calathea (Prayer Plant) – Beautiful foliage and non-toxic
- Boston Fern – A classic favorite that’s safe and air-purifying
- Parlor Palm – Low maintenance and pet-friendly
While these plants are considered safe, it’s still best to discourage pets from chewing on any houseplant to avoid stomach upset.
🐝🌸 Pet-Safe Plants That Support Bees & Butterflies
Creating a pollinator-friendly yard doesn’t have to come at the expense of your pet’s safety. These plants help support bees and butterflies while remaining non-toxic to dogs and cats:
- Sunflowers – Bright, cheerful, and loved by pollinators
- Snapdragons – Colorful blooms that are safe for pets
- Zinnias – Easy to grow and a favorite for butterflies
- Petunias – A versatile, pet-safe option for beds and containers
- Bee Balm (Monarda) – A pollinator magnet that’s generally considered pet-safe
- Cosmos – Light, airy flowers that attract beneficial insects
Adding a mix of these plants helps support your local ecosystem while keeping your furry family members safe.
⚠️ Toxic Plants to Avoid
Some of the most popular decorative plants can pose serious risks to pets. Please use caution or avoid these entirely in pet households:
- Lilies (especially for cats) – Extremely toxic, even in small amounts
- Sago Palm – Highly toxic and potentially fatal if ingested
- Aloe Vera – Beneficial for humans, but harmful to pets
- Pothos (Devil’s Ivy) – Can cause oral irritation and vomiting
- Peace Lily – Causes drooling, irritation, and discomfort
If you suspect your pet has ingested a toxic plant, contact us immediately or seek emergency care.
🌼 Pet-Safe Plants That Help Repel Pests
Good news—you can also make smart planting choices outdoors that naturally help reduce ticks and mosquitoes while staying safe for your pets:
- Lavender – Helps deter mosquitoes and has a calming scent
- Rosemary – Repels insects and is safe for pets in normal exposure
- Basil – A kitchen staple that also keeps bugs away
- Marigolds – Known for pest-repelling properties
- Mint (plant in containers!) – Helps deter pests but can spread aggressively
Keeping your yard well-maintained, grass trimmed, and combining these plants with your pet’s regular flea/tick prevention is the best defense during peak season.
🐾 Memorial Garden Update
Our Creekside Memorial Garden project continues to grow beautifully, and we are so grateful for the support and enthusiasm from our community.
Memorial Garden paver order forms are now available.
You are welcome to stop by our lobby during regular business hours to pick one up.
This space is being thoughtfully created as a place to honor beloved pets, reflect, and find peace during both joyful and difficult moments. If you’d like more details about the vision and design, please refer back to last month’s newsletter where we shared the full story behind this meaningful project.
🌷 A Gentle Reminder
Spring is a season of renewal—but also one where we see increased exposure risks for pets, from plants to parasites. If you ever have questions about what’s safe, what’s not, or how to best protect your pet, our team is always here to help.
Wishing you a beautiful, safe, and flower-filled May.
– Your Creekside Veterinary Hospital Team