Is Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane) safe for cats and dogs?

Also sold as: Charming Dieffenbachia, Giant Dumb Cane, Tropic Snow, Exotica, Spotted Dumb Cane, Exotica Perfection, Dieffenbachia. Retail labels vary, so check the botanical name (Dieffenbachia) if you are matching a plant you already own.

What the ASPCA lists for Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)

The ASPCA records Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane) (Dieffenbachia, family Araceae) as Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats. Toxic principle: Insoluble calcium oxalates, proteolytic enzyme. Clinical signs listed: Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth , tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing. Read the ASPCA entry.

Read the wording on this entry against the other aroids. Most of them say oral irritation and pain. This one says intense burning. The difference is the second toxic principle: alongside the insoluble calcium oxalate needles that every aroid carries, the ASPCA records a proteolytic enzyme, which digests protein and drives the crystals deeper into the tissue. That combination is why the common name is dumb cane, from the swelling of the mouth and tongue that can leave an animal unable to make a sound. Swelling that severe can also block the airway. This is the plant on this site where the advice to call rather than watch and wait carries the most weight.

The ASPCA files the whole genus in one entry, titled Dumbcane and filed as Dieffenbachia, and gives it seven alternative names: Charming Dieffenbachia, Giant Dumb Cane, Tropic Snow, Exotica, Spotted Dumb Cane, Exotica Perfection and plain Dieffenbachia. Four more entries cover individual species such as Dieffenbachia amoena and Dieffenbachia picta. They agree on the verdict, and the species pages sometimes word the principle as calcium oxalate crystals rather than naming the enzyme. Whichever name is on the label, the answer does not change.

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?

• Cast Iron Plant, see the care guide.
• Pilea (Chinese Money Plant), see the care guide.
• Money Tree, see the care guide.

More on pet safety

Read the full care guide for Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane), 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.