What To Do If Dog Eats Pothos – A Gardener’s Step-by-step Guide
It’s a moment that makes every plant-loving pet parent’s heart stop. You walk into a room to find your beautiful, cascading pothos looking chewed and tattered, with your furry best friend looking just a little too innocent nearby. I’ve been there, and I know that wave of panic well.
You’re probably asking yourself a dozen questions at once. Is my dog okay? Is pothos poisonous? Can my plant be saved? Take a deep, calming breath. You’ve come to the right place. As a fellow gardener who adores my four-legged companions, I promise this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
In this article, we will cover the immediate steps to take for your dog’s safety, explain exactly why pothos is an issue for pets, and provide a complete what to do if dog eats pothos guide for both your pet’s health and your plant’s recovery. We’ll even explore long-term strategies to create a harmonious home for both your plants and your pets. Let’s get you both back on the right track.
What's On the Page
- 1 First Things First: Immediate Steps for Your Dog
- 2 Understanding Pothos Toxicity: Why is it a Problem for Dogs?
- 3 The Complete What to Do If Dog Eats Pothos Guide: Your Vet’s Role
- 4 Your Pothos Care Guide: Helping Your Plant Recover
- 5 Long-Term Prevention: Creating a Pet-Safe Green Oasis
- 6 Frequently Asked Questions About Pothos and Pets
- 7 A Safe Home for All Your Green and Furry Friends
First Things First: Immediate Steps for Your Dog
When you discover the scene, your first priority is your dog. Panic won’t help, but quick, calm action will. Here are the immediate what to do if dog eats pothos tips to follow. Don’t worry—we’ll get through this together.
Remove Your Dog and the Plant: Gently and calmly lead your dog away from the plant into a separate, secure space. Remove any remaining plant pieces from their reach to prevent further ingestion.
Check Their Mouth: Carefully check inside your dog’s mouth for any leftover plant material and gently wipe it out with a damp cloth. Do not try to induce vomiting unless specifically instructed to by a veterinarian.
Offer Fresh Water: The irritating crystals in pothos can cause immediate discomfort. Offering your dog a small amount of fresh water (or even milk or yogurt) can help rinse their mouth and soothe some of the initial irritation.
Call for Professional Advice: This is the most crucial step. Immediately call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). They are the experts and can give you advice tailored to your dog’s size, breed, and the amount of plant ingested.
Have information ready for the call, including your dog’s weight, any pre-existing health conditions, and your best guess as to how much of the plant they ate. This information is vital for the experts to give you the best advice.
Understanding Pothos Toxicity: Why is it a Problem for Dogs?
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is one of the most beloved houseplants for a reason—it’s forgiving, beautiful, and a fantastic air purifier. Unfortunately, its beauty hides a defense mechanism that can be problematic for our curious pets. Understanding this is key to knowing how to handle the situation of what to do if dog eats pothos.
The Culprit: Insoluble Calcium Oxalate Crystals
The toxicity of pothos comes from microscopic, needle-shaped crystals called insoluble calcium oxalates. These crystals are bundled together in the plant’s cells. When a dog chews on a leaf or stem, these bundles are broken, releasing the sharp crystals.
Imagine chewing on a mouthful of tiny glass shards—that’s essentially the sensation it creates. These crystals embed themselves in the soft tissues of the mouth, tongue, throat, and digestive tract, causing immediate pain, irritation, and inflammation. This is one of the most common problems with what to do if dog eats pothos that you’ll need to manage.
Common Symptoms of Pothos Ingestion in Dogs
Thankfully, because the pain is immediate, most dogs will stop chewing after the first bite. This means severe poisoning is rare. However, you should still monitor your dog closely for the following symptoms:
- Intense oral irritation and pain
- Pawing at the face or mouth
- Excessive drooling or foaming
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat
- Vomiting
- Difficulty swallowing
- Whining or signs of distress
In most cases, these symptoms are mild and resolve on their own within a day. However, significant swelling can pose a risk to their breathing, which is why a call to your vet is always the right first move.
The Complete What to Do If Dog Eats Pothos Guide: Your Vet’s Role
While home care can manage mild cases, your veterinarian is your most important partner in this situation. They can assess the severity and provide treatment to ensure your dog is comfortable and safe. Trusting their expertise is one of the most important what to do if dog eats pothos best practices.
What to Tell Your Veterinarian
When you speak to your vet, be prepared to provide clear information. If you can, bring a piece of the chewed plant with you for positive identification.
Be ready to share:
- Your Dog’s Details: Breed, age, and approximate weight.
- The Plant: Confirm it was a Pothos plant.
- The Amount: Your best estimate of how much was eaten (e.g., one leaf, a whole vine).
- The Timeline: When you think the ingestion occurred.
- The Symptoms: A clear list of any signs of distress you’ve observed.
Potential Treatments Your Vet Might Recommend
Based on their assessment, your vet will determine the best course of action. For most mild ingestions, they may simply recommend continuing to monitor your dog at home and providing supportive care.
If the reaction is more significant, they might:
- Administer medication to protect the stomach lining and reduce nausea.
- Provide pain relief to manage the oral discomfort.
- In rare, severe cases involving significant swelling, they may need to administer antihistamines, steroids, or provide fluid therapy to prevent dehydration from vomiting.
Following your vet’s advice precisely is the fastest way to get your furry friend back to their happy, tail-wagging self.
Your Pothos Care Guide: Helping Your Plant Recover
Once you’re confident your dog is safe and comfortable, you can turn your attention to the other victim: your poor pothos! Don’t despair, my friend. These plants are incredibly resilient. Think of this as an unexpected pruning session. This what to do if dog eats pothos care guide will help your plant bounce back stronger than ever.
Step 1: Assess the Damage
Take a look at your plant. Are there just a few nibbled leaves? Or are entire vines torn or severed? Identifying the extent of the damage will help you decide on the best course of action. Remove any leaves that are more than 50% damaged.
Step 2: Prune for Health and New Growth
Using a clean, sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears, make clean cuts to tidy up the plant. Trim any ragged, chewed-on leaves or stems. Cut stems back to just above a node (the small bump on the stem where new leaves emerge). This will encourage the plant to branch out and become fuller.
Pruning is like giving your pothos a fresh start. It signals the plant to redirect its energy into producing new, healthy growth. It’s one of the surprising benefits of what to do if dog eats pothos—you can end up with a bushier plant in the long run!
Step 3: Propagate the Damaged Pieces!
Here’s where you can turn a mishap into a gardening win. Don’t throw away those severed vines! If you have any pieces of stem with at least one node and a leaf, you can easily propagate them to create new pothos plants for free.
Simply place the stem cuttings in a jar of water, ensuring the node is submerged.
Place the jar in a spot with bright, indirect light.
Change the water every few days, and within a few weeks, you’ll see new roots begin to sprout!
Once the roots are an inch or two long, you can plant them in soil.
See? Now you have more beautiful pothos to place in much safer locations around your home.
Long-Term Prevention: Creating a Pet-Safe Green Oasis
The best way to handle a pet-plant emergency is to prevent it from ever happening again. Creating a home where your pets and plants can coexist peacefully is entirely achievable. This involves a mix of strategic placement, training, and smart plant choices. Let’s explore some sustainable what to do if dog eats pothos prevention strategies.
Strategic Plant Placement: Think Vertically
The easiest solution is to keep toxic plants out of your pet’s reach. Pothos are perfect for this because their vining nature lends itself to creative, high-up placement.
- Hanging Baskets: The classic solution. A pothos cascading from a ceiling hook is beautiful and safely out of reach.
- High Shelves: Place your pothos on top of tall bookshelves, cabinets, or dedicated plant shelves that your dog cannot access.
- Wall Planters: Mount planters directly onto the wall for a living art installation that’s well clear of curious noses.
Eco-Friendly Repellent Sprays
For plants on lower surfaces that you can’t move, a taste deterrent can work wonders. You can use a commercial bitter apple spray, or try a simple, eco-friendly what to do if dog eats pothos solution at home.
Mix a solution of one part white vinegar to three parts water, or a solution of water with a heavy dose of lemon juice. Lightly mist the leaves of your plant. Dogs dislike the bitter taste and strong smell and will often learn to leave the plant alone after one or two investigative licks. Reapply every week or so.
Training and Redirection
Active training can also be very effective. If you see your dog showing interest in a plant, give a firm “Leave it!” command. When they move away, reward them with praise or a high-value treat. Provide plenty of engaging dog toys to keep them from getting bored and looking for “fun” things to chew, like your plants.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pothos and Pets
Is a tiny nibble of pothos dangerous for a large dog?
For a large dog, a single, small nibble is unlikely to cause a severe reaction beyond some minor mouth irritation and drooling. The immediate discomfort usually prevents them from eating more. However, it’s always best to call your vet for advice, as every dog can react differently.
Will my pothos plant die after being eaten by my dog?
It’s highly unlikely! Pothos are famously tough and resilient. As long as the root system is intact, a good pruning will almost always encourage it to regrow, often coming back even fuller and healthier than before.
Are there any completely non-toxic vining plants I can grow instead?
Absolutely! If you love the vining look but want total peace of mind, consider a Hoya (Wax Plant), a String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii), or a String of Turtles (Peperomia prostrata). All are pet-safe and beautiful.
How long do symptoms of pothos poisoning last in dogs?
In most mild cases, symptoms like drooling and oral irritation will resolve within 12 to 24 hours. If symptoms persist or worsen, contact your veterinarian immediately.
A Safe Home for All Your Green and Furry Friends
Discovering your dog has eaten a beloved plant can be scary, but now you are fully equipped with the knowledge and confidence to handle it. Remember the key steps: stay calm, prioritize your pet’s immediate safety by calling a vet, and then tend to your plant.
By implementing smart prevention strategies, you can continue to build a beautiful indoor jungle that is a safe and happy space for every member of your family, paws and all. Don’t let one little incident discourage you from the joys of gardening.
Happy gardening, and happy tails!
