• If you like aloe plants, teach your pets to avoid them.aloe vera image by Yvonne Bogdanski from Fotolia.com
  
  Plants are ideal home decor accents, but if you have pets, you need to be mindful of the type of plants you select. Some plants are poisonous to animals if ingested. Toxic plants will cause your pet to become very ill. You can avoid buying poisonous plants, or teach your cat or dog to stay away from them. Thankfully, many animals are in tune with their natural instincts, so they know which plants to avoid.
  
  

Aloe

• Aloe Vera plants are beneficial for humans, but this plant is toxic to cats, dogs and other animals. Aloe plants are typically grown in desert climates as landscape decor. Many cats and dogs will naturally avoid aloe, but if your pet ingests this plant he may experience some of the following symptoms: depression, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and urination problems.
  
  

Apricot Trees

• Apricot trees are another plant beneficial to humans, but toxic to animals. If your animal eats any part of an apricot tree, it will become very sick. The seeds, leaves and fruit is toxic if ingested. If your dog happens to eat any part of this plant, it will experience the following symptoms: panting, shock or difficulty breathing.
  
  

Alocasia

• Alocasia is a common garden and house plant. The Alocasia has large green foliage and red stems. This plant is very decorative, but it, too, is toxic to animals. If your pet happens to eat this plant, it will have burning irritation in its mouth, along with excessive drooling. Some animals may also vomit and have difficulty swallowing.
  
  

American Bittersweet

• American bittersweet plants are toxic to cats, dogs and horses. This plant produces green foliage and tiny yellow fruit. Euonymin and sesquiterpene are the toxic chemicals found in these plants. Other names for this shrub are the climbing bittersweet or Waxwork. If your animal ingests this plant, it will experience the following symptoms: weakness, convulsions or diarrhea.
  
  

Amayrillis

• Amayrillis are lovely white, pink and red flowers, but they are very toxic to cats, dogs and wildlife. Thankfully, many animals will avoid eating flowers, but if your pet happens to eat an amayrillis plant, it will become depressed and have diarrhea and abdominal pain.