Is Begonia safe for cats and dogs?

What the ASPCA lists for Begonia

The ASPCA records Begonia (Begonia, family Begoniaceae) as Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses. Toxic principle: Soluble calcium oxalates. Clinical signs listed: Kidney failure (in grazing animals), vomiting, salivation in dogs/cats. Most toxic part is underground. Read the ASPCA entry.

Two things on this entry set begonias apart from the usual houseplant warning. First, the principle is soluble calcium oxalates, not the insoluble kind most toxic houseplants carry. Soluble oxalates are absorbed into the bloodstream instead of stopping at the mouth, which is why the ASPCA lists kidney failure among the signs rather than mouth pain alone. Second, the entry states plainly that the most toxic part is underground. The tubers and rhizomes hold the highest concentration, so a dog that digs up a begonia has done something more serious than a cat that chews a leaf. The kidney failure warning is marked for grazing animals; for dogs and cats the entry records vomiting and salivation.

The ASPCA covers the genus in one entry and describes its own scope in the alternative-names field as over 1,000 species and 10,000 hybrids, so there is no need to identify which begonia you own. Six further entries cover individual types such as Rex Begonia and Iron Cross Begonia, and they carry the same verdict and the same signs. One name in the database is a trap in the other direction: Watermelon Begonia is not a begonia at all but a peperomia, and it is listed non-toxic.

What this verdict does and does not mean

Being non-toxic does not mean a plant is chew-proof: even pet-safe houseplants can upset a cat's or dog's stomach if they eat a large amount, simply because it is plant matter. Most toxic houseplants cause irritant-level symptoms, such as drooling, mouth soreness, or a mild upset stomach, rather than a medical emergency. A small number of plants are a genuine emergency, most notably true lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species) for cats, which can cause fatal kidney failure from even a small amount of pollen or a nibbled leaf. If you are ever in doubt, or your pet has eaten part of a plant, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435.

Safer alternatives

Looking for something with a similar look and habit that is pet-safe instead?

• Calathea, see the care guide.
• Peperomia, see the care guide.
• Fittonia (Nerve Plant), see the care guide.

More on pet safety

Read the full care guide for Begonia, browse the pet safety checker for other plants, or identify a plant from a photo first if you are not sure what you have. Verdicts here follow the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.