Jade plant (Crassula ovata) in Pets

Jade plant (money tree) usually causes only mild vomiting in pets. Learn what signs to expect, home monitoring and when persistent signs need a vet.

What It Is

Jade plant, also called money tree or friendship tree, is a slow-growing succulent with thick oval leaves on woody stems. The toxic principle is not well identified. Pet Poison Helpline states that eating jade plant typically causes no more than mild stomach upset.

Where Pets Come Across It

Windowsills, desks and bonsai displays. Pets chew the fleshy leaves, which snap off easily.

Which Animals Are Affected

Dogs and cats. The ASPCA also lists it as toxic to horses.

Published Toxic Dose

No toxic dose is published. Signs are typically mild and self-limiting. The calculator does not grade jade by dose.

Signs and How Soon They Appear

Vomiting, nausea and sometimes lethargy or a slow, wobbly gait, usually within a few hours. Most pets are back to normal within a day.

What to Do Right Now

Remove leaf pieces from the mouth, offer water and keep an eye on your pet. Pet Poison Helpline recommends veterinary care if signs persist. Call sooner if a small pet ate several leaves or seems very lethargic. There is no need to make your pet vomit.

Other succulents and what to swap in

Jade plant belongs to the Crassula family, and many related succulents look similar: silver dollar jade (Crassula arborescens), 'Gollum' jade with tubular leaves, and string-of-buttons. Kalanchoes, which belong to the same plant family, contain heart glycosides and are more of a concern than jade, so it is worth identifying a succulent correctly before deciding how worried to be. If you want windowsill succulents in a home with pets, Haworthia species and the ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) are listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic. Echeverias are also widely regarded as non-toxic. As with any plant, a pet that eats a lot of fibrous leaf may still vomit, so keep pots out of reach of habitual chewers.

Why some pets seem drowsy after chewing jade

Pet Poison Helpline and the ASPCA mention that, along with vomiting, some animals become lethargic or slightly wobbly after eating jade plant. The cause is not well understood, and signs are usually short-lived. Watch your pet somewhere safe and quiet, away from stairs, until it is behaving normally again. Persistent depression, refusal to eat for more than a day, or repeated vomiting are reasons to see a vet, particularly in older pets or those with kidney or heart disease, which may tolerate dehydration poorly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources and References

• Pet Poison Helpline: Jade Plant
• ASPCA: Jade Plant

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