Dieffenbachia (dumb cane) in Pets

Dumb cane sap fires needle-like oxalate crystals into the mouth. Learn why pain is immediate, why there is no mg/kg dose, and the rare breathing warning sign to watch for.

What It Is

Dieffenbachia is a tall, thick-stemmed houseplant with large cream-and-green leaves. Its sap is packed with needle-shaped crystals of insoluble calcium oxalate (raphides) fired from special cells when the plant is chewed. The name 'dumb cane' comes from people who temporarily lost their voice after chewing the stem.

Where Pets Come Across It

Offices, waiting rooms and living rooms, where large pots sit at floor level. Cats chew leaf tips; dogs bite into the fleshy stem, which holds more crystals.

Which Animals Are Affected

Cats and dogs, and other pets that chew plants, such as rabbits and birds.

Published Toxic Dose

Insoluble oxalate plants injure by direct contact, so there is no mg/kg toxic dose. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that a body-wide reaction to insoluble calcium oxalate has not been reported. The calculator accordingly shows no mg/kg risk level.

Signs and How Soon They Appear

Pain starts at once: drooling, pawing at the mouth, head shaking, foaming, vomiting and refusing food. Swelling of the lips and tongue is common. Pet Poison Helpline notes that in rare cases throat swelling can make breathing difficult.

What to Do Right Now

Wipe the mouth and rinse it gently with water, and offer a little milk, yoghurt or water to soothe it. Call your vet if drooling continues, if your pet will not eat, or straight away if breathing sounds noisy or laboured. Do not induce vomiting.

Keeping a dumb cane in a home with pets

Dieffenbachia grows tall and drops its lower leaves as it ages, leaving a bare cane with a tuft of leaves on top. Owners often cut the cane back and root the top, which exposes fresh sap; wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards, keep pets out of the room while you work, and wipe up sap from floors. Dropped lower leaves are a common source of exposure because they lie at nose level. If you have a dog that chews woody things, the thick cane is especially attractive. Consider moving the plant to an office or a room pets cannot enter, or replace it with a large non-toxic plant such as an areca palm (Dypsis lutescens), which the ASPCA lists as safe for cats and dogs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources and References

• Pet Poison Helpline: Dieffenbachia
• ASPCA: Dieffenbachia
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Houseplants and Ornamentals Toxic to Animals

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