Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My dog ate Philodendron - what should I do?
Philodendron spp.
Potentially toxic
Contact your veterinarian or an animal poison-control resource now, especially if any amount was chewed or swallowed.
Verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.
Signs to watch for
Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
Escalation note
Ingestion usually results in immediate discomfort due to the mechanical irritation of calcium oxalate crystals. Please consult your veterinarian if ingestion is suspected.
First aid at home
Remove any plant material still in your dog's mouth and gently flush the mouth with clean, cool water to wash out remaining crystals. Do NOT induce vomiting — bringing the leaf material back up causes more burning to the esophagus, mouth, and stomach. Then call your vet or Pet Poison Helpline for next steps.
What to watch for
Pawing at the mouth, head shaking, and lip smacking start almost immediately. Expect heavy drooling, intense oral pain, and often vomiting within minutes. Watch for difficulty or refusal to swallow, pawing at the face, and any swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat — airway swelling is uncommon but is the symptom that turns this from painful to urgent.
Time window
Oral pain and drooling usually appear right away; some signs can take up to about two hours to show. With supportive care, mild cases typically resolve within 12–24 hours; vomiting and reduced appetite may linger a day or two.
When to call the vet
Call your vet or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) any time you see persistent drooling, repeated vomiting, refusal to eat or drink, or visible swelling of the mouth or throat. Go straight to an emergency clinic for any change in breathing, loud swallowing, or collapse — those suggest airway involvement.
What this means for your dog
Dogs that bite or chew philodendron leaves get an immediate mouthful of insoluble calcium oxalate crystals — microscopic needles that puncture the soft tissues of the lips, tongue, and throat. Most dogs spit the leaf out fast because the burn is sharp, so reactions are usually painful and dramatic but not life-threatening. The bigger risk is significant swallowing: GI irritation, repeated vomiting, and (rarely) airway swelling can land an unlucky dog at the emergency vet.
Sources: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline.
Source references
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.