Flamingo Flower

Yes, Flamingo Flower (Anthurium scherzeranum) is toxic to cats. It contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that cause immediate oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing upon contact with tissue.

Symptoms are rapid — typically within minutes to 2 hours of chewing. Your cat may paw at its mouth, hypersalivate, shake its head, or refuse to eat due to the pain. In rare cases, oropharyngeal swelling can progress to airway compromise. Oral signs typically resolve within 12–24 hours with supportive care.

Remove any plant material from the mouth, rinse with cool water, and offer milk, canned-tuna water, or chicken broth — the calcium helps bind and dilute the oxalate crystals and eases pain. Do not induce vomiting. Call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 if drooling doesn't settle within an hour, swelling appears in the mouth or face, vomiting persists, or breathing changes at all.

The entire plant contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals — the mechanism behind the toxicity. These crystals cause immediate mechanical irritation the moment they contact mouth or throat tissue, so even a small chew of a leaf, stem, or spathe is enough to trigger symptoms.

Yes, Flamingo Flower (Anthurium scherzeranum) is toxic to dogs. It contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that cause immediate oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

Symptoms appear within minutes of chewing and almost always within 2 hours — your dog may drool heavily, paw at their muzzle, rub their face on the floor, vomit, or refuse to eat. In larger ingestions, visible swelling of the lips and tongue can develop; rarely, upper-airway swelling causes breathing difficulty, which is the one urgent scenario.

Remove any remaining plant material from your dog's mouth, then offer milk, tuna water, or chicken broth — the calcium in dairy binds the oxalate crystals and the dilution eases the burn. Do not induce vomiting; bringing crystals back up re-injures the mouth and esophagus. Call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 if symptoms persist or worsen.

The plant contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals — microscopic needle-like structures that physically puncture and irritate soft tissue in the mouth, tongue, and throat on contact, causing the immediate burning sensation and excessive drooling dogs experience. Oral signs typically resolve within 12–24 hours, but call your vet if drooling lasts more than 30–60 minutes, swelling is visible, vomiting continues, or breathing changes.