Dieffenbachia Poisoning – Is it Toxic to Humans, Cats and Dogs?

Dieffenbachia poisoning is a significant concern for pet owners and parents, as this popular houseplant is toxic to humans, cats, and dogs.

In most cases, exposure causes painful mouth irritation, swelling, drooling, or skin irritation rather than life-threatening poisoning, but symptoms can still be serious and should not be ignored.

Also known as dumb cane, dieffenbachia contains calcium oxalate crystals that can irritate the mouth, throat, and skin when the plant is chewed or the sap is touched. This guide explains how toxic dieffenbachia really is, the most common symptoms to watch for, and what to do after exposure.

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Dieffenbachia Poisoning – Is it a real problem?

The common name for dieffenbachia is dumbcane. The name refers to its poisonous effect, mainly when ingested. The poison can temporarily cause an inability to speak. Another common name for it is “mother in law’s tongue.”

Effects of ingesting

• Dieffenbachia plants contain needle-shaped calcium oxalate crystals (oxalic acid) as well as asparagines, a protein found in the plant.
• When the leaf is chewed, these crystals will cause a burning sensation.
• Generally, the condition is mild and temporary.
• The poison is transmitted through the juice in the plant, found in the stems, leaves, and, more rarely, the roots.
• The toxicity of the plant is considered in the medium range.

Who is at risk?

• The problems are more severe for children and pets than for adults.
• The effects are rarely life-threatening.
• The most common patients attended to for dieffenbachia toxicity are children younger than 5.

Symptoms of dieffenbachia toxicity for humans

Most of the symptoms of dieffenbachia poisoning are mouth-related. Ingesting the leaf poison can result in any of these symptoms:

Mouth symptoms

• swelling and blistering in the mouth or on the tongue
• a burning sensation in the mouth or throat
• nausea and vomiting
• hoarseness
• difficulty swallowing

Eye Symptoms

If the poison is transferred to the eyes from the hands, these symptoms could occur:

• damage to the cornea
• eye pain.

Skin symptoms

• general redness
• burning
• itching

Ingestion symptoms

If the juice of the plant has been swallowed, one can expect

• diarrhea
• vomiting
• difficulty breathing (if enough is consumed)

Since the juice of the leaves produces a burning sensation, it is unlikely that large amounts would be consumed, so the last symptoms are “worst case” scenarios.

Dieffenbachia toxicity for pets

Since dogs and cats are most likely to be random chewers, the toxicity of the plant can be more severe. There have been reported instances of death with dogs, cats, rabbits, and pet birds.

If you have young puppies or kittens, dieffenbachia is probably not a good plant to grow indoors since they love to chew on anything nearby.

Symptoms of dieffenbachia poisoning in pets

In addition to the symptoms above for humans, dieffenbachia poisoning in animals might also include:

• scratching at the face
• restlessness
• drooling
• difficulty eating
• loss of appetite
• unconsciousness

Since the symptoms in animals can be life-threatening, a vet should be called if you suspect dieffenbachia poisoning.

Treatment for dieffenbachia poisoning

• If you or your child is affected, first wipe out the mouth with a cold, wet cloth.
• Drink milk to ease the symptoms.
• Rinse eyes well with cool water if they are affected.
• The most common additional medical treatments for dieffenbachia poisoning are antihistamines, medical charcoal, or analgesic agents.

As long as the plant’s contact with the mouth or eyes is not severe, the symptoms usually resolve in a few days.  You can also call poison control for more information.

Precautions with dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia is a common office plant and should pose no problems when used this way. However, since this plant is also common in many homes, some care should be exercised.

• If the plant needs to be cut, it is wise to wear gloves.
• If you have children or pets, dieffenbachia should be kept out of reach.
• If you notice lip or tongue swelling, or difficulty in breathing, seek urgent medical attention.

Other poisonous houseplants

This is not the only plant that is toxic to humans and pets. Many other commonly grown plants are. Some others to find out about are these:

• Angel trumpet –  brugmansia
• Sago palm is another plant where all parts of the plant is toxic to humans.
• Calla lily poisoning is similar to dieffenbachia but milder.
• Gloriosa lily, although gorgeous, is a highly toxic plant.
• Caladiums are poisonous if chewed or swallowed, similarly to dieffenbachia.
• While not considered highly toxic, Mandevilla is from the dogbane family, so caution is noted in growing it.
• The umbrella plant is considered mildly toxic to felines
• Arrowhead plant has a mild to moderate toxic effect on cats, dogs, and horses.
• Chinese lantern plants are toxic to humans if consumed in large quantities.

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Is dumb cane poisonous? There is a reason that dieffenbachia has the common name dumb cane. Find out about the toxicity of this plant on The Gardening Cook.  Share on X

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Admin note: This article about dieffenbachia poisoning first appeared on the blog in June 2017. This post has been updated with new photos, and a slideshow video about various types of houseplants.

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