Is dracaena toxic to dogs?

Updated 11/07/2023

Now that it’s on trend to drench our houses in greenery, are they becoming prettier yet more dangerous for our pets? Probably - and with dracaena popular with many a fashion-forward household, it begs the question - is dracaena toxic to dogs? Well here we’re answering exactly that to help you pet-proof your household.

Is dracaena toxic to dogs?

Flourishing in a warm environment with varying humidity without direct sunlight, it’s easy to see why many choose to welcome dracaenas into their homes, but is dracaena poisonous to dogs? Sadly, yes - if your pup ingests it, they’re likely to show signs of poisoning including diarrhea, drooling and weakness. If you think your pooch might have nibbled on your dracaena plant, keep a close eye on them and make sure they have plenty of water available. Most symptoms will be mild and manageable at home, however, if your pup continuously vomits, stops eating, or is very lethargic/unwell, contact your veterinarian. 

Dracaena poisoning in dogs

Now that we know dracaena isn’t safe for dogs, let’s explore the symptoms of dracaena poisoning a little further, along with how you can expect your veterinarian might diagnose your pooch, and possible treatments that might be administered.

Symptoms

The Dracaena plant, an evergreen-like plant, contains saponins, a chemical that is often found in plant skins where they form a waxy coating. These naturally occurring chemicals cause irritation to the gastrointestinal system of our pooches when consumed and lead to the symptoms associated with tummy upset, vomiting and fluid loss. 

Below we’ll take a look at some of the symptoms your pooch is likely to experience if they’ve nibbled on your dracaena plant. While we’re sharing these to settle your mind and get you in the know, keep a close eye on your pup and if you are worried about their condition, contact your veterinarian. 

• Weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Drooling
• Vomiting (sometimes with blood)
• Dehydration (from vomiting)
• Gastrointestinal irritation
• Anorexia
• Depression

Diagnosis

Most of the time symptoms associated with ingestion of this plant can be managed at home and so a veterinary clinic visit won’t be necessary. If your pup has other medical conditions like diabetes, kidney or heart disease, for example, a bout of vomiting could cause more severe symptoms and so require treatment. Symptoms are still likely to be mild and not require a hospital stay. If you do need to visit the vet, like with any other house or garden plant, you should try and take a sample of it with you to your veterinarian if you think your pup has ingested part of it. This will help your vet make a clear and more swift diagnosis than if they were solely making judgements based on your pup’s symptoms. A physical exam along with confirmation of the offending plant causing the symptoms is usually enough to guide treatment in this case.

Treatments

As with any form of treatment, your vet’s decisions will be based on the severity of your pup’s symptoms. The symptoms of dracaena poisoning in dogs are considered mild, so your vet’s priority will most likely be to prevent further dehydration caused by vomiting and diarrhea. Usually, symptoms can be managed at home with medication or diet. Your pup may receive an anti-sickness injection in the clinic to settle their tummy. If your pooch is very unwell, vomiting multiple times, is very lethargic or stops eating, they may rarely need more medical help, so seek veterinary advice.

Meet our veterinary expert, Lily

This article has been checked by veterinarian Lily Richards BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS. Lily qualified from Liverpool University in 2011 and spent 5 years as a veterinarian working in mixed animal practice. As Lily’s passion for exotics and exploring more complicated small animal medical cases developed, she stepped into small animal-only practice. By 2018 Lily was leading a busy branch of a large hospital practice with a fantastic team, enjoying working on both surgical and medical cases. Since falling poorly in 2021 Lily has found a new passion in medical writing. Sharing medical knowledge and writing for the public is a particular passion. 

Other plants that are poisonous to dogs

Sadly, lots of the plants us humans have covered our homes in are toxic to dogs if ingested, so get clued-up on the plants toxic to dogs, starting with those below.

• Azalea
• Ivy
• Philodendron
• Morning glory
• Rhododendron