Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) in Pets

Golden pothos (devil's ivy) contains oxalate crystals that sting a pet's mouth. Learn what is normal after a chew, how to soothe the mouth and simple ways to prevent repeats.

What It Is

Golden pothos, also called devil's ivy, is a fast-growing trailing vine with heart-shaped leaves streaked with yellow. It is one of the easiest houseplants to keep, which is why so many pets meet it. Like other aroids, it contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth.

Where Pets Come Across It

Hanging baskets, bookshelves and moss poles, with long vines trailing within reach of cats. Cuttings rooting in water are also attractive.

Which Animals Are Affected

Cats and dogs. Small pets that chew plants, such as rabbits and birds, are also affected.

Published Toxic Dose

There is no toxic dose to calculate because the crystals act on contact. The Merck Veterinary Manual reports no body-wide reaction to insoluble calcium oxalate. The calculator therefore does not grade the dose.

Signs and How Soon They Appear

Immediate mouth pain, drooling, pawing at the face, foaming, vomiting and refusing food. Swelling of the tongue and lips is possible; breathing difficulty is rare.

What to Do Right Now

Rinse the mouth with water and offer something cool. Watch for continued drooling or refusing food. Call your vet if signs last more than a few hours, and go immediately if breathing sounds abnormal. No need to induce vomiting. Hanging vines higher or trimming them out of reach prevents repeat episodes.

Why pothos is so often chewed, and how to stop it

Pothos grows fast and sends out long, dangling vines that move in a draught, which is exactly what attracts a playful cat. Cuttings in glasses of water on a windowsill invite cats to drink the water and nibble the stems. Practical fixes are simple: trim vines so they finish well above the floor, hang baskets away from furniture a cat can use as a launch pad, and keep propagation jars in a closed room. Some owners spray leaves with a bitter pet deterrent, though cats vary in how much they care. A dish of cat grass gives a cat something acceptable to chew. If you want a trailing plant without crystals, the ASPCA lists the spider plant and Swedish ivy (Plectranthus verticillatus) as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Rabbits, birds and other small pets

House rabbits, guinea pigs and parrots often have free run of a room and will strip a pothos vine methodically. Because they are small, swelling in the mouth or throat matters more for them than for a cat, and rabbits cannot vomit. If a small pet has chewed pothos, check that it is still eating and passing droppings, and call an exotic-animal vet if it stops eating, drools heavily or breathes noisily. Birds that chew pothos may shake their heads, regurgitate or fluff up. For rooms where small pets roam, choose plants listed as non-toxic and still supervise, since even safe plants can upset a sensitive gut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources and References

• ASPCA: Golden Pothos
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Houseplants and Ornamentals Toxic to Animals

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