Houseplant
Is Dracaena toxic to cats and dogs?
Dracaena species · also called Dragon tree, corn plant, lucky bamboo relative, Madagascar dragon tree
Cats
Mildly toxicDogs
Mildly toxicDracaenas are mildly toxic to cats and dogs. Chewing them can cause vomiting, drooling and loss of appetite; cats may also have dilated pupils.
By Maya HartIf your pet chewed it
- Rinse your pet’s mouth with water and offer a drink.
- Most pets recover within a few hours; call your vet if drooling, vomiting or pawing at the mouth continues.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting, sometimes with blood
- Drooling
- Loss of appetite
- Dilated pupils (cats)
- Lethargy
What is harmful
- Parts
- Leaves and stems
- Substance
- Saponins
The details
Dracaenas are among the most popular office and living-room plants. Cats often chew the long, grassy leaves. Poisoning is rarely serious, but repeated chewing causes repeated vomiting. Lucky bamboo is itself a dracaena (Dracaena sanderiana), which surprises many owners.
Pet-safe alternatives
Questions owners ask
Is Dracaena toxic to cats?
Yes — mildly toxic to cats. Harmful parts: leaves and stems.
Is Dracaena toxic to dogs?
Yes — mildly toxic to dogs. Harmful parts: leaves and stems.
What happens if a pet eats dracaena?
vomiting, sometimes with blood, drooling, loss of appetite, dilated pupils (cats), lethargy.
What should I do if my pet chewed it?
Rinse your pet’s mouth with water and offer a drink. Most pets recover within a few hours; call your vet if drooling, vomiting or pawing at the mouth continues.
What are pet-safe alternatives to dracaena?
Spider plant, Boston fern, Calathea (prayer plant), Areca palm, Moth orchid.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts
